Bird is an electric scooter sharing company that allows users to rent electric scooters through a mobile app. Bird scooters can be found in cities across the United States and Europe. The company launched in 2017 and has grown rapidly since then. One of the key questions for Bird riders is how much it costs to use the electric scooters. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of how Bird charges for rides, the different ride packages available, and tips for saving money on Bird rides.
Unlock Fees
The first charge riders will encounter when using Bird is the unlock fee. This is a flat fee that is charged each time a scooter is unlocked from a parked position. The unlock fee covers the cost of unlocking the scooter and helps ensure Bird vehicles do not get overused.
Here are the standard unlock fees for Bird rides:
Bird Service Area | Unlock Fee |
---|---|
United States | $1 |
Europe | €1 |
So for example, if you take two Bird rides in Los Angeles in one day, you will be charged $1 to unlock each scooter, for a total of $2 in unlock fees. The unlock fee starts each ride.
In some cases, Bird may run promotions that reduce or eliminate the unlock fee as an incentive to attract more riders. But outside of promotional periods, riders can expect to pay between $1-$1.50 each time they unlock a Bird scooter.
Per Minute Usage Fees
In addition to the unlock fee, Bird also charges a per minute usage fee. This covers the rental cost of using the scooter for each minute of the ride.
The per minute rate can vary based on the city, but is usually between $0.15-$0.39 per minute used. Here are some example per minute usage costs:
City | Per Minute Fee |
---|---|
Los Angeles | $0.39 |
Paris | €0.15 |
Tel Aviv | ₪0.50 |
Riders are only charged for the minutes they are actively riding. The scooter clocks the ride from the time it is unlocked to when the ride is ended in the app.
So for a 20 minute ride in Paris, the charges would be:
– Unlock fee: €1
– Per minute fee: €0.15 x 20 minutes = €3
– Total ride cost = €1 + €3 = €4
As you can see, longer ride times can start to add up due to the per minute fee. Frequent Bird users may want to consider the unlimited monthly plans described later in this article to save money.
Minimum Fees
In some cities, Bird has implemented a minimum fee per ride. This means riders will be charged at least the minimum fee, even if the unlock fee + per minute usage is less than the minimum.
For example, in San Francisco the minimum fee per ride is $5. So even if you took a very short 2 minute ride and the unlock fee + per minute charges only added up to $2, you would still be charged the $5 minimum fee.
Minimum fees help ensure Bird can cover the costs of maintenance and operations even for very short rides. Not all cities have minimum fees but riders should be aware they may apply depending on the location.
Parking Fees
Bird requires riders to properly park scooters at the end of a ride. Riders should park on the sidewalk out of the way of pedestrians and avoid blocking access to buildings, bus stops, etc.
If a rider ends a ride but does not properly park the scooter, they may incur a parking fee. This is essentially a penalty charged to the rider’s account for failing to park correctly.
Parking fees can vary but tend to range from $5-$25 depending on the severity of the parking issue. Riders should take care to avoid these extra charges by parking responsibly each time.
Rider Deposits
For new Bird accounts, a pre-authorization hold is usually placed on the rider’s credit card when they first sign up. This is essentially a deposit that Bird reserves in case there are any issues or fees related to damaged scooters.
The pre-authorization amount varies by city but is usually between $5-$25. The hold will be released within 1-3 days after signup as long as there are no outstanding fees on the account. This deposit helps protect Bird from issues or abuse related to new riders.
Taxes and Fees
Depending on the city, additional taxes, fees and surcharges may be added on top of the standard Bird usage fees. For example, in Chicago an additional $0.15 is charged per ride as part of the city’s Ground Transportation Tax. Other cities may charge excise taxes or fees to fund local transportation infrastructure.
Riders should check the Bird app or website for details on any local taxes or regulatory fees that may be charged in addition to the base unlock, per minute, and minimum ride fees. The receipt for each ride in the app will break down all applicable taxes and surcharges.
Juvenile Ride Pricing
Bird has special Juvenile pricing for riders age 13-17 who have parental consent to use the scooters. The Juvenile per minute rate is 50% of the standard adult pricing. However, the unlock fee and minimum ride fee in each city stays the same.
Here are some example per minute Juvenile pricing:
City | Standard Per Minute Fee | Juvenile Per Minute Fee |
---|---|---|
Detroit | $0.39 | $0.20 |
Brussels | €0.25 | €0.13 |
So Juvenile riders get a discounted per minute rate, while still paying the same unlock and minimum fees per ride. This makes Bird more affordable for teenagers while still covering Bird’s costs.
Bulk Ride Pricing
In addition to pay-as-you-go pricing, Bird also offers options for bulk ride packages that can save frequent riders money.
These include:
Ride Passes
Ride passes provide a set number of unlocked rides for a flat fee. For example, in San Diego a 5 Ride Pass costs $5 and includes 5 unlocked rides with no per minute fee for the first 30 minutes of each ride. Any ride time over 30 minutes is charged at the standard per minute overage rate.
Ride passes essentially bundle the unlock fees into a flat package. They work well for riders who take a predictable number of shorter rides.
Monthly Unlimited Rides
For frequent riders, an unlimited monthly pass offers the best value. For a flat monthly fee, riders get unlimited free unlocks and per minute usage on rides up to 30 minutes. Any ride time over 30 minutes is charged at the standard overage rate.
Here are the current monthly unlimited pricing options:
Pass Duration | Fee |
---|---|
1 Month | $29 |
3 Months | $69 |
12 Months | $99 |
As you can see, the longer duration plans provide increasing discounts. For frequent riders, the unlimited 12 month pass at $99 would cover all standard 30 minute or less rides for an entire year.
Bird Platform Rentals
In some markets, Bird offers additional rental packages tailored to business partnerships and platform rentals. For example:
– Campus Pass – Campus-specific pricing for students at partner universities to cover all rides taken within campus boundaries.
– Events & Venues – Custom pricing packages for conventions, festivals, and other large events with expected heavy Bird ridership.
– Bundled Transportation – Packages that bundle free or discounted Bird rides together with public transit passes and other sustainable transportation offerings.
– Corporate Accounts – Custom monthly pricing for large companies to cover employee rides taken for work meetings and errands.
The specific offerings and pricing for these bulk commercial packages vary across different markets and client needs. However, they provide an opportunity for large partners to collaborate with Bird to enable easy micromobility for their community.
Promo Codes
Bird also regularly offers promo codes that provide discounts on rides. These typically include:
– New rider promo codes – Discount off first ride for new app signups, usually $3-5 off
– Referral credits – $5 credit for referring a new user who completes their first ride
– Occasional general discounts – Codes sent out during promotions or holidays for $1/2 off rides
Riders should be on the lookout for special one-time discount codes that Bird announces through email and social media. These can provide nice savings that offset some of the ride costs.
Tips for Saving on Bird Rides
Here are some key tips to save money on Bird electric scooter rentals:
– Sign up for monthly or bulk ride passes – These offer huge discounts compared to per minute rates for frequent riders
– Only unlock when ready to ride – Don’t unlock the scooter until you are ready to go to avoid idle fees
– Ride mostly under 30 minutes – Unlimited passes don’t cover overage fees so keep rides short to avoid overage charges
– Park properly – Avoid penalty fees by responsibly parking out of the way at the end of each ride
– Avoid congested areas – Per minute fees add up quickly if you get stuck in heavy traffic or crowds
– Keep rides in bounds – Certain zones like university campuses may have special rates that only apply within set boundaries
– Take advantage of promos – Create an account to get new user rider credits and keep an eye out for other periodic deals
Following these tips can help Bird riders maximize the value and minimize the costs per ride.
Conclusion
Bird offers a convenient way to get around via electric scooter by paying a small unlock fee plus per minute usage charges. While the per minute rates can add up quickly, Bird also provides bulk pass options that offer significant savings for frequent riders. Understanding how Bird charges for rides, and utilizing tips like bulk discount passes, promos, and avoiding overage fees allows users to get the most economical value out of the service. With prices as low as $1 to unlock and $0.15 per minute in some cities, Bird offers an affordable transportation option when used strategically.