Dive Brief:
- Shared micromobility provider Bird Global lost its permit to provide dockless scooters in Baltimore following an annual revision to the Baltimore City Department of Transportation rules and regulations and a 30-day public comment period.
- Bird received four citations during the 2022 to 2023 permit year, according to the Baltimore Sun.
- Spin and Superpedestrian were “offered permit renewals because they did not receive any citations during this time, and their compliance with program regulations demonstrates true commitment to the city,” a BCDOT press release said.
Dive Insight:
Baltimore’s decision to not renew Bird’s permit comes while the micromobility company faces a dire financial picture of ongoing net losses and negative free cash flows. If it is unable to raise capital and generate sufficient cash, Bird may need to shrink or discontinue operations or seek bankruptcy protection, the company warned in its Aug. 9 earnings report.
Bird began pulling out of many small and mid-sized markets in the U.S. in 2022, along with exiting countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. However, the company reported successfully renewing operating permits in nearly 30 U.S. cities in July, including Cincinnati, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle.
An average of 105,000 trips on dockless vehicles are taken each month in Baltimore, according to BCDOT. “Shared mobility has become an intricate part of our transportation system as we continue to integrate creative solutions for improved mobility citywide,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in a press release.
Spin will continue to operate e-bikes and e-scooters in Baltimore, and LINK by Superpedestrian will provide e-scooters, seated e-scooters and adaptive vehicles for those with special mobility needs.
