Bird is back in Burlington and beyond with e-bikes to share after emerging from bankruptcy

Dan D'Ambrosio, Burlington Free Press

Bird is back.

You may recall the bikeshare company serving Chittenden County with bright blue e-bikes declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last December, but said it would continue to operate as usual. Turns out they weren't kidding. Bird is back in business in Burlington and beyond, according to the Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association (CATMA), having launched in March for the 2024 season.

"Despite facing headwinds, Bird is here and has exhibited a commitment to our community including a carefully thought-out relaunch plan," CATMA said in a statement. "The plan includes tools and resources to better manage inappropriately parked bikes and make sure bikes are placed in locations through the system including Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski and our neighborhoods."

A flock of Birds nesting at City Hall Park in downtown Burlington, as seen on May 1, 2024.
A flock of Birds nesting at City Hall Park in downtown Burlington, as seen on May 1, 2024.

Those headwinds, i.e. bankruptcy, were calmed by organizing a new parent company called Third Lane Mobility Inc, which acquired both Bird and Spin, another bikeshare company. Together the two companies have more than 200,000 e-bikes and e-scooters across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Earlier this year, Third Lane announced it was launching service in several cities new to its system, including Corpus Christi, Texas; Greensboro, North Carolina; the University of Illinois; Surrey and Mississauga, Canada; Naples and Torino, Italy; as well as renewing its service in Gap, France and Zaragoza, Spain.

You'll need to download an app before you fly on a Bird. As seen on May 1, 2024.
You'll need to download an app before you fly on a Bird. As seen on May 1, 2024.

Bird by the numbers for 2023

CATMA, a nonprofit, entered into an agreement with Bird to provide electric-assist bikes last June, reiterating its commitment to bikeshare as "an essential transportation option in Chittenden County." CATMA called Bird a success story in 2023, citing ridership data:

A properly parked Bird, as seen on May 1, 2024 at the corner of South Champlain and College streets in downtown Burlington.
A properly parked Bird, as seen on May 1, 2024 at the corner of South Champlain and College streets in downtown Burlington.

  • 5,200 members.

  • 27,015 trips.

  • 4.72 tons of carbon dioxide saved.

  • 300% increase from old system to new system with Bird.

This is not how a Bird should land. The Bird app will tell you where to park. In certain zones, you must park and lock the Bird to a bike rack or in a designated parking area. Other zones have other rules, but the Bird must always be upright. As seen on May 1, 2024.
This is not how a Bird should land. The Bird app will tell you where to park. In certain zones, you must park and lock the Bird to a bike rack or in a designated parking area. Other zones have other rules, but the Bird must always be upright. As seen on May 1, 2024.

It costs $1 to unlock a Bird bike and 49 cents per minute for the duration of your trip, which averaged 10 minutes long in 2023. Bird offers a Community Pricing Program with a 50% discount for low-income riders, Pell Grant recipients, certain local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans and seniors. CATMA members are eligible for a 20% discount.

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on X @DanDambrosioVT.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Bird back with e-bike shares in Chittenden County

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