High-flying News
Bird's newest dockless scooter is flying into Austin with hefty price tag
Did y’all know we’ve been flying around on a prototype? On May 8, Bird unveiled its Bird One dockless scooter model, which has a bigger battery, quicker takeoff, and a 30-mile range — all upgrades from the Bird Zero we’ve been flying around on for the past year.
And this one is for sale.
That’s right, for $1,299 (yelp!) you can be the proud owner of your very own Bird scooter. Going after the iPhone aesthetic, the bikes come in white, black, and rose colors. If that seems a little steep, don’t fret — the One will also be on its way to Austin's shared fleet soon.
"We look forward to the day the people of Austin can try out Bird One for themselves through the shared or owned experience, and feel first-hand the benefits of riding the new world-class model," a rep told CultureMap. Though the company wouldn't reveal the exact rollout date for Austin, saying only that will be available summer 2019, the scooter is available in Los Angeles beginning this week.
Bird took two years of customer feedback and data from tens of millions of rides to build a scooter with a denser frame, more responsive brakes, hidden cables, and greater stability. It also has fancier service panels and better lighting for night-riding. It also comes with a GPS and lock that you can engage by phone.
“Bird One builds on the benefits and learnings of Bird Zero and is forecasted to last in the sharing environment for well over a year,” said Bird founder and CEO Travis VanderZanden. “Given the excitement and demand for our next generation e-scooter, we are also making a limited supply of Bird Ones available to own. Now, whether you want to share, rent, or own, Bird provides an option for everyone.” (Everyone with a working cell phone and data, that is.)
Another feature is the Bird One's purported durability. The updated model is promised to last four times longer than the current bike, which generally leave the fleet in three months. That’ll hopefully alleviate concerns from the environmental lobby that the initial wave of scooters were close to disposable and therefore clogging up rivers, creeks, and streams.
Buyers will also have access to 20 free rides, so even if you leave yours charging at home or are traveling, you can jump on and traverse the city.
Twitter users are already panning the price point, and suggesting modifications like heated handlebars. While they’re at it, they might as well put in plush seats and a coffee shop. Then we’d really be in business.
As we mentioned, Bird is keeping its cards close to the vest with regard to an exact date. Interested buyers can check here to find out when Bird One lands in Austin and other U.S. cities this summer.