Jefferson City Council to discuss getting rid of Bird scooters

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council will introduce a bill Monday night that, if passed, would end the city's agreement with Bird scooters, according to the meeting agenda.

The agreement with Bird Rides, Inc., was entered into the city on June 24, 2021.

In 2022, Bird Rides paid the city $3,308.25 in business license fees, based on a 25-cents-per-ride business license fee. If the bill passes, the city would be forgoing this revenue, according to meeting documents.

"We've been getting a lot of complaints about the Bird scooters being left in places where they shouldn't be. Where that's right in the middle of sidewalks, even, I've had them placed close to driveways, you know on the edge of streets," Third Ward Councilman Scott Spencer, the bill's sponsor, said before the meeting.

In the 30 days between April 19 and May 18, 2023, 502 riders rode Bird scooters, totaling 1,861 rides, according to Bird's online dashboard for the City.

"We do see a lot of close calls, I think is probably the best way to put it. You know where people had some negative interactions with people on bird scooters," said city attorney Ryan Moehlman.