Bird Announces 'Helmet Selfie' Safety Incentive Program

SANTA MONICA, CA — Bird, the shared electric scooter company, launched a "Helmet Selfie" incentive program Tuesday to encourage riders to wear a helmet while riding Bird scooters.

Bird gave away nearly 75,000 helmets in the last 18 months, but "unfortunately access did not result in increased helmet adoption," the company statement said. According to a study looking at shared e-scooter related injuries from Austin Public Help, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one of 190 injured scooter riders was wearing a helmet, the Bird press release said.

But, Bird is hoping to change that by incentivizing riders to wear helmets with the Helmet Selfie. At the end of each trip, riders are asked to take a selfie — those wearing a helmet will receive incentives such as future ride credits.

"Bird and the cities in which we operate share a number of common goals, including but not limited to improving the safety of all road users," Paul Steely White, Director of Safety Policy & Advocacy at Bird, said. "Our new Helmet Selfie product and Safety Marketplace are a direct outcome of ongoing conversations we’ve had with our partner cities, safety experts from leading academic and research institutions, as well as leading innovators in the helmet and safety protection industries."

The shared mobility company will also be launching Bird Safety Marketplace, where riders can find a selection of road safety products to help better protect themselves, the press release said.