San Ramon Launches E-Bike & E-Scooter Sharing Pilot

SAN RAMON, CA — San Ramon Wednesday launched an electric bike and scooter sharing pilot program through a partnership with Bird, an international electric mobility company.

San Ramon is the first city in Contra Costa County to pilot a bike and scooter sharing program as part of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s Mobility on Demand Program, which is examining the program before it expands to other county cities. San Ramon’s pilot program features up to 150 vehicles throughout the city that can be rented through the Bird mobile app that are currently available for use.

The CCTA selected Bird out of other bidders as the preferred leader of its pilot program in May. Since then, Bird has worked with San Ramon to define a service area and mark parking at locations selected by city staff, community members, and Bird experts.

“Offering Bird’s cutting-edge shared micromobility vehicles and technology to the San
Ramon Valley is first among many measures that will be necessary to achieve San
Ramon’s greenhouse gas reduction target (40% below 1990 levels by 2030), and
carbon neutrality by 2045,” Chris Weeks, Division Manager of Transportation at
the City of San Ramon, said in a statement.

Weeks said that Bird vehicles consist of a number of smart safety features, including the ability to be programmed to operate no faster than a predetermined speed zone in defined areas. Storage areas called “nests” are also monitored to ensure safe and orderly storage.

The scooters will also be offered at a 50% discounted price to qualifying groups like veterans, students, teachers, senior citizens, and low-income individuals. Scooters can be rented by non-smartphone users through SMS texting. Additionally, all San Ramon Bird users will have unlock fees waived for the first three months, and pay only the fee of 39 cents a minute.

“Bird is extremely excited about launching a shared mobility program that could one
day connect the entire East Bay and Tri-Valley Area,” Austin Marshburn, Director
of City and University Partnerships for Bird, said in a statement. “Bird is passionate about solving the ‘last mile’ problem currently facing the residents, commuters, and tourists of San Ramon.”

By ‘last mile,’ Mashburn is referring to the distance transit users often have to walk to and from the nearest stop or station.