NEW: Bird Scooters Pulled From Providence Streets
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
The Birds are gone - the company confirmed they have pulled the scooters while working with the City on regulations.
A representative from the Bird rider support helpline confirmed the decision Tuesday morning, saying the scooters have been removed from city streets while the company works with the city on the permits. There is currently no set date for their return, though the representative said it would hopefully be "soon."
The company's "beg forgiveness rather than ask permission" approach to launch has caused waves across the country, as cities scramble to put regulations into place. Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the scooters were launched the same day as Providence, ordered that all scooters be removed from the city until regulations could be put into place.
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Friday's launch of the one-year pilot program allows for a total of 300 electric scooters in the city. A fee of $1 per scooter, per day --paid in full, up-front-- is required, as well as a $50 endowment fee on each for maintenance and property repairs.
The pilot program also outlines rules for rider safety, including a requirement for a valid driver's license or municipal ID. Scooters can be ridden on sidewalks or streets, and riders are encouraged to go slow and wear a helmet. On the street, riders are required to follow all rules of the road and obey traffic regulations.
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