Bird CEO Says High Gas Prices May Boost E-Scooter Riders: Report

SANTA MONICA, CA — Rising gas prices are hitting Californians in the pocket, but it could be a good thing for e-scooter and e-bike company Bird, according to media reports.

Bird, the Santa Monica-based micromobility company, is expecting it could add more riders considering current gas prices, dotLA reports.

“While nobody likes high gas prices, and we obviously don’t like how we got here, we do think elevated gas prices will likely accelerate transition to affordable microelectric vehicles such as Bird,” Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden said this week.

The need for affordable transportation could force people to use the Bird app.

As prices reach more than $6 per gallon across some parts of Southern California amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other global factors, Bird reported that fourth-quarter revenues of $54 million were up 126 percent compared to the same period in 2020.

From 2020 to 2021, the company's revenues more than doubled from $95 million to $205 million. It did have losses of nearly $40 million in the fourth quarter, having total losses of more than $208 million in 2021.