Middletown launched an e-bike and scooter pilot program on Sept. 1 that allows users to pay for rides through an app. Bird bikes are seen on the street on Monday afternoon.
Middletown launched a pilot program for electric bikes and scooters on September 1st. Users scan a QR code to get started.
Middletown launched a pilot program for electric bikes and scooters on September 1st. Scooters could be seen on the High Street on Monday afternoon.
Middletown launched an e-bike and scooter pilot program on Sept. 1 that allows users to pay for rides through an app. Users scan a QR code to get started. They were all over the streets on Monday afternoon.
Middletown launched an e-bike and scooter pilot program on Sept. 1 that allows users to pay for rides through an app. Users scan a QR code to get started. They were all over the streets on Monday afternoon.
Middletown recently launched a pilot program that offers Bird e-scooters and e-bikes at different locations for riders who want shorter rides. Users download the app to start their journey. People scan a QR code that takes them to the app.
Middletown launched an e-bike and scooter pilot program on Sept. 1 that allows users to pay for rides through an app. Users scan a QR code to get started. They were all over the streets on Monday afternoon.
Middletown launched an e-bike and scooter pilot program on Sept. 1 that allows users to pay for rides through an app. Users scan a QR code to get started. They were all over the streets on Monday afternoon.
MIDDLETOWN — Less than a week after the city launched its micromobile electric bike and scooter pilot program, local tourists are taking to this new form of rapid transit on short trips across the city.
Drivers may have noticed the pale blue eco-friendly Bird electric bikes and black scooters parked on sidewalks throughout the city, mostly in the city center, North End and surrounding areas, and wondered if anyone could give it a try.
Bobbi Knoll Peterson, Acting Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development, encouraged people to take short trips around the city using sharing apps.
The company’s goal is to replace car travel as a convenient option that will make cities safer, reduce pollution, and encourage responsible cycling.
Bicycle and scooter usage has been good so far, with 98 bikes and scooters scattered across the city making 1,976 trips between Sept. 1 and Sept. 12 — an average of 165 uses per day, Peterson said.
During this time, the service was tested by 641 unique users, driving a total of about 1660 miles. According to Peterson, many of the riders were from Wesleyan University and those users collectively covered 800 miles in just the first five days.
Late last year, Middletown reached out to e-bike and scooter companies to seek proposals from micro-mobility companies to encourage more people to ditch their cars for some journeys and opt for eco-friendly transportation on the road.
According to Peterson, Byrd contacted the city and won the project. “We know what we want and what we don’t want,” she said. “…there can be many different ways to successfully use them.”
The city partnered with Byrd to create a map that “blocks out” certain areas where bicycles and scooters are not allowed, allowing adjustments to be made as needed. They can be customized at any time, Peterson says.
She added that a big advantage is geocaching companies and local fleet managers who can move bikes and scooters left in more remote areas. “They created a system where we can manage what we do and where we don’t want these vehicles to go,” the executive explained.
The app uses geocaching to show available bikes and scooters in real time, and people can even reserve one. The idea is to place bikes or scooters in certain area “hotspots”, such as the Russell Library on Broad Street.
This allows users to get to their destination, leave their bike or scooter outside for someone else, and likely find another within walking distance in most cases, Peterson said.
After a ride, the app asks drivers to take a photo of a bike or scooter parked on the sidewalk.
There are no gears on the bike, which makes pedaling easier and people get a workout, albeit without resistance, according to Peterson.
The company said they can’t be ridden on sidewalks and users should use the bike lane on the right side of the road. They are self-locking so no bike racks or docks are required.
Under state law, drivers are allowed to let scooters and bikes through as long as they leave a distance of at least three feet between the vehicle and the cyclist. Helmets are welcome.
She says Peterson points to other benefits over buying an e-bike or e-scooter: no maintenance and no need to store them in the home, where space can be limited.
“Reviews have been great,” Peterson said. “In general, we hear from people that they appreciate the program.” Under the Bird Public Pricing Program, low-income commuters, Pell Grant recipients, select local nonprofits and community organizations, veterans, and seniors are eligible for a 50% fare discount.
In addition, eligible medical workers and first responders can ride for free, and eligible drivers can ride for free twice a day for 30 minutes, Peterson said.
Anyone aged 18 or over can use the Bird app on a smartphone to use bikes and scooters, which requires a credit card or PayPal account. The exact price depends on the ride, but most start at $1 and cost 49 cents a minute, according to the app.
The app is available for download from the Apple Store or Google Play. For information, visit bird.bike.
Cassandra Day is an assistant executive editor at Middletown Press. She is an award-winning multimedia reporter and resident of Middletown’s North End who has covered nearly every aspect of the city for over two decades.
Post time: Apr-05-2023
