Bird scooters have become a popular way to get around many cities quickly and efficiently. As an electric scooter rental service, Bird allows you to locate and rent a scooter using their app. Finding a nearby Bird scooter to ride is easy if you follow these steps.
Check the app
The first step to finding a Bird scooter near you is to open the Bird app. When you open the app, you’ll see a map view that shows available Bird scooters in your area. The scooters will show up as round icons on the map. You may need to zoom into the map and pan around to spot scooters that are close by.
In the app, you’ll be able to see exactly how far away each scooter is from your current location. This makes it easy to identify the closest ones. You can click on a scooter icon to see more details like the battery charge level.
Focus your search
When you first open the Bird app, it will show scooters across your entire city which can be overwhelming. To narrow your search, enter a specific address or landmark in the search bar at the top of the app. This will recenter and zoom in the map to that location.
You can also use the map filters to show only certain scooters near your location. For example, filter by scooters with a high battery charge or scooters located on bike lanes. Filtering helps remove scooters that wouldn’t be convenient for you to use.
Check locations frequented by scooters
Over time, you’ll notice patterns in where Bird scooters tend to be parked and available in your neighborhood. Some common places to look are:
- Near transportation hubs like subway stations
- In downtown areas and business districts
- Along bike lanes and parks
- Near tourist attractions and landmarks
- On college campuses
Checking these types of locations directly can help you find and rent a Bird scooter faster without having to search aimlessly in the app.
Use the ride feature
If you need to rent a Bird scooter urgently, try using the “Ride” feature in the app. Tap the Ride button then enter your destination. The app will show you the closest scooter that you can ride to your destination along with the estimated ride duration.
The Ride feature eliminates having to manually search the map for scooters near you. Instead, it automatically identifies the optimal scooter to meet your need.
Reserve a scooter
To guarantee a scooter will be there waiting when you need one, reserve it in advance. Reserving lets you claim a nearby scooter for up to 30 minutes before riding it.
To reserve, tap the scooter icon in the app and select “Reserve”. You’ll need to pay a small fee of $0.15 to make the reservation. But this ensures no one else can take the scooter during your reservation window.
Use Bird’s scooter finder
If you’re having trouble locating nearby scooters in the app, use Bird’s online Scooter Finder. Visit the Scooter Finder webpage and enter an address to see available Bird scooters mapped in the area. You can also enter the specific make and model of scooter you’re looking for to filter results.
The Scooter Finder is useful if you need help actually seeing where scooters are located around a certain building or intersection.
Check availability in other apps
In addition to the Bird app, you can also look for Bird scooters in other transportation apps. For example, both Transit and Citymapper allow you to view and rent Bird scooters through their platforms.
Opening multiple apps increases your chances of spotting a Bird scooter close to your location. And the different map interfaces may make it easier to pinpoint nearby scooters.
Use scooter spotting mode
Both the Bird and Transit apps offer a scooter spotting mode that alerts you when you walk or drive near an available scooter. Enable spotting mode so that the app will notify you if you happen to pass close to a Bird scooter as you move around your city.
This can be helpful if you don’t have a specific destination in mind. With scooter spotting on, you’ll learn about Bird scooters along your route.
Check social media
Follow Bird on social media to see real-time posts about scooter availability in your area. Both the local Bird Twitter account and Instagram page will often share updates on scooter deployments and new nest locations.
Bird also has a Twitter bot called Bird Hunt that crowdsources info from riders about scooter sightings. Checking social can provide scooter location tips before you even open the app.
Ask local groups
Join community groups like Facebook groups and Nextdoor focused on your city or neighborhood. Then search or post in the group to ask about where people typically see Bird scooters locally.
Other locals may share helpful insights on when and where scooters tend to be available in different parts of town.
Find scooters after 9pm
Bird scooters are harder to come by late at night after riders have finished their evening commutes and errands. But you can improve your odds of finding a scooter by looking in these late night hot spots:
- Near bars and restaurants
- In busy nightlife districts
- Along routes between nightlife areas
- Near 24-hour stores and pharmacies
- Around hotels and transportation hubs
Ride share services like Uber and Lyft also tend to drop off passengers near available scooters at night. So check the app after arriving from a ride share trip.
Check at the start of the day
The morning offers a fresh batch of charged Bird scooters placed in nests around the city. Early risers are most likely to find scooters before commuters start riding them for the day.
Search near popular morning spots like coffee shops, transit stations, schools, and parks first thing to snag a scooter at dawn.
Conclusion
Finding a nearby Bird scooter to ride takes a mix of preparation and luck. Having the app open as you move around the city gives you the most visibility to scooter availability in real time. Enabling spotting notifications also helps surface rental opportunities. And regularly checking Bird’s social channels, local groups, and crowded areas can uncover where scooters roost in your community.
With the right tools and tips, locating your Bird for the ride is a breeze. Now hop on and scoot off to your next destination!