GF eyes electric scooter program

Electric scooters could be roaming the streets of Grand Forks later this summer. The city council gave staff the green light work on an MOU with Bird Rides Inc. to provide the service.

The electric scooter sharing system already has the support of UND and student government. They would be available for riders 18 years and older 24 hours a day.  Bird Rides spokesman Michael Covato says they have the technology to limit use if necessary.  “I think there would be some concerns using these in winter conditions.  It would probably be a 3 or 3.5 season business.  With technology if there is an unanticipated weather event we can digitally shut down the entire fleet remotely so no one is using it with unsafe conditions.”

Covoto says the company will assume all program costs.  “This fundamentally is a public transportation system.”

Allowing the scooters in town would require a change in city code and two readings by the council.