City: Bird Scooters has fixed contract violations

The company that operates Bird scooters has resolved violations of its contract with the City of Columbia, a city spokesman said Monday.

ABC17 previously reported on the agreement with Bird Rides, Inc. and Columbia in November.

Columbia Public Works Director David Nichols sent a letter to Bird on Wednesday outlining two violations of the contract with the city.

City spokesman Steve Sapp said Monday that the company had fixed the issues on Friday and is no longer in default on its contract. One violation was in relation to scooters being operated after the agreed upon cutoff time of 8 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes later.

According to emails between the city and Bird, the company investigated and fixed the issue immediately. In the email, Bird says their records show that there have been no rides after 8:00 p.m. since April 19.

Bird told the city there was a software issue which caused the problem and the company has fixed the software. Sapp said the company told city officials a perimeter setting had been removed and the city will watch scooter activity to make sure the problem has been corrected.

Sapp encouraged Columbia residents to help with the oversight of Bird.

The city also said Bird violated its contract by paying late. The payment to the city was due Tuesday and the city received the payment Wednesday morning, according to the letter.

“This is the first time we’ve had to issue a letter to Bird that indicates that we’ve got a problem with the contract, and we’re hoping it’s the last time we do,” Sapp said.

Sapp said the city’s issues with Bird are part of a nationwide issue as businesses based on new technologies enter the market.

“It’s like any other disruptor: rideshare, dockless bicycles, dockless scooters, they’re new and so governments across the country are scrambling to try to keep up with ordinances and making sure everyone is treated fairly, from the company to the citizens,” Sapp said.