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Council hears transport update as Bird wins Bloomington micromobility license; Lime rejected
Summary
Transportation Demand Manager Jeff Jackson told council the Board of Public Works awarded Bird the city’s new e-scooter/e-bike license after Bird met updated fee and device-ratio requirements; Lime’s application was rejected over indemnification and fee disputes. Council discussed sidewalk-blocking complaints, enforcement and using fees for corrals.
Jeff Jackson, transportation demand manager for the city of Bloomington, told the council that the Board of Public Works has awarded the city’s new e-scooter and e-bike operating license to Bird and rejected Lime’s application. "That Bird met our requirements while Lime decided not to amend their application," Jackson said, citing Lime’s requested changes to indemnification language and a request to pay a prorated one‑time fee rather than the city’s required amount.
Jackson told council members Bird agreed to the city’s increased e-bike ratio (raised from 25% to 35%) and had provided a local address as required. He described a graduated license-fee proposal staff considered during the licensing process: a flat per-ride fee (city staff discussed raising the prior 10–15¢ per trip to 30¢ per trip) and a one-time operator fee scaled by number of operators (examples discussed ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 depending on how many operators enter the market). "We asked both Bird and Lime to consider increased license fees," Jackson said.
Council members pressed Jackson on sidewalk-blocking complaints, geofencing, enforcement, and data sharing. Jackson said city staff will replicate successful downtown corrals in neighborhoods and that he contacts the operator the same day a complaint is filed and asks for a response within two hours. On enforcement, he said public-works parking staff have cited vehicles in some cases and that he would follow up with exact figures on fines and citations.
Jackson also said he expects Bird to ramp up operations and to deploy both e-bikes and e-scooters locally; he noted advantages to managing a single operator for responsiveness and enforcement. Council members asked that staff ensure operators provide use data so the city can better target corrals and pricing in lower-income areas. Jackson said staff will require license compliance and pledged to monitor and report back on enforcement and injury-tracking data.
Next steps: city staff will coordinate with Bird on an operational ramp-up and finalize licensing details, enforcement monitoring and corral expansion plans.
