If you’re looking for a sign of spring in Green Bay, the seasonal flock of Bird scooters currently roosting all over the city is as good as any robin. One morning, you wake up and there they are; just like buds on tree branches or your neighbor raking while wearing shorts even though it’s only 50 degrees.
Through a partnership with the City of Green Bay, these battery-powered electric scooters are here to provide a fun personal transit option for residents and visitors alike. All over the US, micro-mobility services like these are available to help make public transportation more practical by solving the “last mile” problem. They can also allow commuters to leave their cars parked throughout the workday while going out for lunch and running errands. No doubt, they will be popular with visitors to our city during the upcoming NFL Draft, (though they will not work in Ashwaubenon).
One of the questions you may have is, “Do these really get used?” It’s true that you’re more likely to see them standing in rows at the curb than in use. But that’s just the law of averages. In truth, these get used quite a bit. Here are the stats for 2024:
- In 2024, roughly 5,000 individuals used Bird scooters.
- Throughout the season, there was an average of 103 rides per day. Considering there were about 130 scooters in the ‘flock,’ that’s pretty good!
- The average ride was about 2 miles.
- In total, Bird riders went 40,000 miles.
- 4.34 metric tons of CO2 were saved.
These numbers reflect slight growth over 2023.
And, a week from today, Green Bay Metro Transit will place an electric bus in service for the first time in Green Bay. Purchased with help from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, this bus will make it possible for the commuters on its route to get to work emissions free and possibly zip around on an electric scooter to get even closer to their destination.
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If you’re interested in purchasing your own electric vehicle (EV), instant tax credits are still available for used and new ones. Prices are expected to increase. Click here for Energize Green Bay’s pathway to electrifying your ride. If you have or work for a business with a fleet of vehicles, click here.