Scooter services are ramping back up in cities around the world, and for the team at Bird that means doubling down on the health and safety of our colleagues, our riders and our communities.
As global lockdowns began in earnest in March, our founder and CEO Travis VanderZanden discussed the steps that Bird was taking to keep our vehicles sanitized and help flatten the curve in all of our partner cities. Since then, we’ve continued to build upon this foundation, implementing company-wide safety procedures to ensure that micromobility can provide essential transportation services in a post-COVID world.
So what does that mean?
First it means laying out clear guidelines for deep cleaning and sanitizing our vehicles in response to the current global health crisis. Bird technicians and field teams use CDC-approved disinfectant products to thoroughly sanitize each of our vehicles every time they are recharged or serviced. Regular spot cleanings are also performed in the field on surfaces such as bells, throttles and handlebars.
It also means supplying our team members with the materials necessary to keep themselves and their work surfaces safe, including face masks, hand sanitizer, nitrile gloves, protective goggles and disinfectant sprays and wipes. All technicians are required to wash their hands regularly and dispose of gloves after each use.
Finally, promoting health and safety means working alongside our city partners to ensure that the progress being made on infrastructure and open streets continues well after the pandemic. Micromobility is, by nature, one of the safest and cleanest transportation options during a health crisis. It’s naturally socially distant, reduces reliance on cars and requires no additional precautionary measures other than those taken to run essential errands. By implementing policies that promote scooter and bike use, cities can reduce demand on crowded trains and buses while increasing accessible mobility options. That’s a health and safety win for everyone.
At Bird, our commitment to rider, employee and community safety is what guides our approach to operations. This was true before the pandemic, and it’s even more so now. We’ll continue to do our part to ensure that micromobility is available for essential trips around the world.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.