Annapolis reports strong Bird scooter use; staff push for more bikes, nests, signage and local repairs

The Annapolis Transportation Committee received an update July 9 on the city’s Bird micromobility program, including recent ridership metrics, operational changes and several requests from committee members to improve parking behavior, reporting and community outreach.

William Rowe, the city’s bike-and-pedestrian and micromobility coordinator, said the program launched in 2022 and currently has about 150 devices in circulation. Rowe presented cumulative statistics (as provided by Bird) that the committee discussed: 118,403 rides recorded since launch (about 13,200 rides per month in the dataset Rowe cited), an average trip distance of 1.23 miles, average trip time of 7.25 minutes, total ride distance of about 153,711 miles, and roughly 19,707 unique users in Annapolis. Rowe also cited an estimated 69,170 car trips replaced and CO2 reductions reported by Bird’s methodology; he noted the carbon figures are Bird-provided estimates.

Rowe and committee members discussed recent usage spikes (June 30 saw 278 rides, the highest spike reported in the dataset Rowe reviewed) and the contractor’s recent inventory adjustments that increased scooters while temporarily reducing bicycles. Rowe said moving repair, charging and staging operations locally has improved turnaround and reduced complaints about devices being left in inappropriate locations.

Aldermen suggested operational changes: establish visible "nests" or designated parking areas (painted spots or corrals) so devices are less scattered; add clearer decals or a sticker with a phone number or QR code to make reporting a misplaced device easier; increase signage and outreach at hubs such as the Giant shopping center and in neighborhood centers; and pursue more bicycles in the fleet to support multiuse trails. Rowe said the maintenance/retrieval contractor is locally based and that the city will pursue further discussion with Bird about nests, geofencing near Navy Stadium on event days, promotional materials, age-data availability, and potential contract expectations. Committee members asked about contract renewal timing; Rowe said the contract does not appear to come up for renewal for a couple of years and suggested the city could use that timeframe to define desired operational changes.

Questions from members also covered safety and education (rules of the road for scooters, sidewalk riding and interactions with drivers), and suggested the city expand outreach materials and place them at transit hubs, grocery stores and community centers.

Ending: Staff said they will provide committee members with a link to the Bird dashboard and will follow up with Bird and the local contractor on possibilities for nests, more visible reporting stickers, further outreach and any available age-range data.