Birds are here: Electric scooters part of a trial program to provide transportation option

A set of electric scooters for shared use arrived in Leavenworth earlier this spring. They can be used by anyone over 18 within the City of Leavenworth. The City of Leavenworth and Bird, an electric vehicle company, teamed up to offer e-scooters to the Leavenworth community as part of a trial program. The intent of this program is to offer a transportation alternative and a fun way to travel around the Leavenworth community. Bird has entered into similar agreements for e-scooters with the cities of Kansas City, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas, along with more than 400 other cities globally. This eco-friendly transportation option can be activated through Bird’s mobile phone application, https:// go.bird.co/. Once the application is downloaded, users can find a map of the scooter locations in Leavenworth. Bird sets pricing and fees for users.

There is no cost to the City for this program. Mayor Camalla Leonhard noted that e- scooters can be used for many purposes. “The e-scooters are for everyone – for people accessing needed routes to work or services, or checking out local businesses, museums and restaurants around the beautiful Leavenworth community,” she said. Bird offers community pricing for low-income riders and free rides for healthcare workers and emergency personnel who apply for a specific program in the app. “We applaud the City of Leavenworth for their commitment to offering convenient, environmentally friendly and reliable transportation options to residents and visitors,” said Austin Marshburn, Head of City and University Partnerships at Bird. To report a problem with an improperly parked scooter or other issue, the Community Mode on the Bird app will allow non-users to report problems. It is on the bottom left-hand corner within the Bird app. Residents can reach out to Bird directly at 1-866- 205-2442 or e-mail hello@bird.co. State law prohibits electric scooter use on all highways, including Fourth Street, Spruce Street and Metropolitan Avenue.

3 ways to report an issue with an improperly parked scooter or other problem:

- The Bird app, https://go.bird.co/

- Call 1-866-205-2442

-e-mail hello@bird.co.