Bird Global has launched an accessible mobility program in the city of San Diego, allowing residents and visitors with disabilities to reserve and use “accessible vehicles” such as electric wheelchairs.
Visitors to and residents of San Diego with disabilities can now find, reserve and pay for a selection of accessible vehicles using a custom interface located directly in the Bird app.
Through Bird’s partnership with Scootaround, high-quality accessible vehicles such as the award-winning WHILL Model Ci2 will be available at special discounted pricing exclusively through the Bird app. The vehicle availability combined with special pricing is designed to ensure that Bird is meeting the micromobility needs of all San Diegans, including nearly 10% of the community that has a disability.
“Bird’s commitment to improving sustainable mobility access for everyone means partnering with industry experts whose mission parallels our own including Scootaround and Easterseals,” said Rebecca Hahn, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Bird. “Together with Scootaround, we’re able to bring a trusted, on-demand, personal transportation service to those with disabilities. This is incredibly important to our team, and we believe it’s just as valuable to the communities we serve.”
As part of its service, Bird is also providing a toll-free service to help answer questions individuals have to make the process as seamless and stress free as possible. When the vehicle is delivered, riders will receive a personal 1:1 tutorial on how to safely operate the micro electric vehicle to ensure that they feel comfortable and confident using, charging, and storing their vehicle throughout the duration of their rental.
San Diego is the third city in which Bird has launched this new service with Scootaround, following successful pilot programs in the Bronx and San Francisco. Bird’s move to expand on-demand accessible mobility to all riders falls on International Day of Persons With Disabilities, observed on December 3rd, 2021.
