BIRD SCOOTERS

The Bird Company surprised the Bakersfield community and dropped off 200 electric scooters around town last Friday, leaving city officials concerned about safety and liability issues. Assistant City Manager, Steven Teglia says he didn’t want to overreact and remove the scooters without first talking to the company at yesterday’s meeting.  Teglia says residents who use the scooters as an alternative mode of transportation for short trips, will save on gas and car mileage. The city has not yet officially approved the new mode of transportation and says that if someone gets hurt, the Bird company will be responsible. Officials are working on ironing out the liability issues, but are willing to give the Bird Company a chance and see how the community reacts to the pilot program. The Bird Company has been known to deploy scooters in city’s around the country without talking to city officials first.

Jill MIchaels