CLEVELAND — Bird is officially the word in Cleveland.
Bird scooters made their official return to Cleveland Monday, one year after the popular e-scooters were removed from city streets for further consideration.
The scooters first surfaced last year, but were quickly halted by the city due to safety concerns. Now that the city has had time to develop regulations, four vendors have been approved to disperse their e-scooters around Cleveland.
Before you hit the streets on one of the scooters, there are some safety rules and regulations you should know.
Cleveland City Council passed scooter regulations in June, including:
- No riding on streets with a speed limit over 35 miles per hour, unless in a dedicated bike lane.
- No operating e-scooters over 12 miles per hour.
- No operating by anyone under 18 year of age.
- No operating after dark.
- No riding on sidewalks in business districts.
Helmets are not required for riding e-scooters in Cleveland, but they're strongly encouraged.
Bird has also worked with Bike Cleveland to identify bike lanes around the city, making it easier for e-scooter riders to plan their trip.
E-scooters have spiked in popularity across major cities in recent years. Bird launched in Columbus last summer, making the scooters a popular transportation choice among Ohio State students.
Now that Cleveland is officially on board, other Cuyahoga County municipalities are starting to consider e-scooters as well. The city of Lakewood is currently taking resident feedback on e-scooters and e-bikes with an online survey.
Spin, another e-scooter brand, plans to make its Cleveland launch in September.