E-scooter company Bird goes quiet on Salem launch after approaching mayor

Jonathan Bach
Statesman Journal

Don't plan on e-scooting down Salem roads anytime soon.

Bird, the scooter rental company that approached Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett in December about launching services in Salem, has since gone radio-silent on city officials, according to the city manager.

Salem officials attempted to meet with Bird representatives to hear them out.

"Despite the outreach to the mayor, and contacts from staff, the e-scooter company has not followed up with the city regarding scooters in Salem," City Manager Steve Powers wrote in a March 13 update to the mayor and city councilors.

Bird and Lime scooters sit parked in front of a building on April 17, 2018 in San Francisco, California.

Mackenzie Long, a Bird government communications representative, told the Statesman Journal by email Thursday there were "no new updates."

"Will keep you posted if and when anything changes!" Long wrote.

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Bird offers users e-scooter rides beginning at $1, plus an added per-minute charge. A smartphone app allows riders to find and use the scooters. 

Scooters are checked out during the day, and starting at about sunset, they get picked up to be stored, according to the company. Removing the scooters keeps them from staying on sidewalks at night. In Portland, where Bird was part of a pilot program, the scooters were allowed to go up to 15 miles per hour.

Riders are supposed to stay in bike lanes and off sidewalks.

The Statesman Journal reported in January that Sam Kernan-Schloss, Bird's city partnerships manager, contacted Bennett by email in December, writing, "In the coming weeks you may see individuals moving about downtown on low-speed Bird electric scooters."

Kernan-Schloss characterized Salem as "an excellent fit for our business," noting that "we would like to partner with the local government to bring Bird to your community."

Email jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach.