Bird Returns to Paris with Its Rental Electric Bikes

His scooters had left Paris in 2020, and Bird is returning to the capital in 2022 with its shared electric bicycles for rental.

Bird is one of the major players in the world of dockless micro-mobility. Present in 400 cities across Europe, the United States, and Israel, the American company already had a foothold in France: Marseille, Bordeaux, Viry-Châtillon, and Avignon. In Paris, Bird initially launched its electric scooters, also available in Agen. But at the time of the tender in July 2020, the city did not select Bird.

Looking back on two-wheel machines

While scooters are primarily associated with Lime, Dott, or Tier, Bird is making a comeback in Paris with electric bicycles. As of mid-May 2022, more than 100 electric assist bikes are already in Paris, and 600 will be available shortly.

“We are honored to be able to serve the sustainable mobility needs of millions of Parisians and visitors from around the world,” says Renaud Fages, Mobility Director at Bird. “Paris, through its focus on cyclist and pedestrian safety, is at the forefront worldwide in re-conceiving urban spaces and moving away from the car-centered model.”

What do these shared electric bikes offer?

We have already approached these bikes, whose blue color closely resembles that of a competitor, Dott. Two other rivals will compete with these American bikes: Lime and Pony. So what does Bird offer compared to these three options? An electric bike with a rear engine “capable of climbing hills up to 20%, without breaking a sweat.” The handlebar features a screen displaying key information. Lastly, all bikes are equipped with fenders and a front basket.

The battery is very visible on the open frame and easy to remove with its handle for operators. It provides a maximum range of 25 km. This is sufficient, as the coverage is only within the city limits, not even including neighboring suburban towns. To ensure every user parks their bike properly, Bird uses precise Google geolocation, “to the centimeter.”

What are the prices and plans for Bird bikes?

The pricing is fairly standard. Each ride costs 1 euro to unlock, plus 0.21 €/minute, with a minimum of 2.5 euros. Bird also adds “a €3 deposit may be charged at the start of the ride.”

It’s a pity that the operator does not offer group rides or plans reserved for electric scooters. To lower costs, it is possible to rent daily for 8.90€, or monthly for 34.99€, with a limit of 30 minutes per trip and a maximum of 50 trips. Additionally, there are packs of free unlocks available monthly (5.99 €) or for 3 months (9.99 €).

Also read: Véligo surpasses 50,000 electric bike subscriptions