Two companies have introduced affordable electric scooter and bicycle transportation services to Memphis.
Memphians will be able to promote clean energy by riding the bikes and scooters instead of driving to work or school.
One of these companies, Bird, offers electric scooters to lower traffic congestion and carbon emissions, according to spokesperson Michelle Neumayr.
“We provide a fleet of shared electric scooters that can be accessed via smartphone,” Neumayr said. “Birds give people looking to take a short journey across town or down that ‘last-mile’ from the subway or bus to their destination a way to do so that does not pollute the air or add traffic.”
Neumayr said easy traveling is something that is important to everyone, especially college students on a budget.
“Bird provides a convenient and affordable way for students to commute to and from campus and around their communities,” Neumayr said.
Boston George, who frequently rides Bird scooters, said the company’s passion for improving the environment makes him want to ride even more.
“Memphis is becoming more and more industrialized everyday, which is causing more pollution,” George said. “If this company is trying to help improve air pollution, I can give a helping hand by checking out a scooter and riding it to where I need to be instead of Ubering or catching a bus. Plus, not being caught in traffic and taking a scooter instead is really beneficial for me.”
To check out a scooter, users download the Bird app, find a station nearby and pay to ride. The scooters cost $1 plus 15 cents per mile to ride.
Explore Bike Share, another transportation company, aims to promote bike culture and a clean and healthy form of transportation in Memphis. The program currently has 600 bikes at 60 different stations throughout the city. Sara Studdard, Explore Bike Share’s community engagement spokesperson, said the company has been successful with tourists and residents of Memphis.
“During our first two months of Explore Bike Share on the streets, our data shows that more than 6,422 Explore Bike Share riders — tourists and residents alike — collectively have taken 14,800 rides across our service area,” Studdard said. “Even after our launch, we continue our community engagement efforts across the city in order to further our mission of equity.”
Studdard said each customer is helping the environment by reducing air pollution.
“During the first month of launch Explore Bike Share riders reduced over 26,000 pounds of carbon offsets, rode over 25,000 miles and burned over 1 million calories,” Studdard said.
The company has also received a $2.2 million Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality federal grant from the Department of Transportation in order to expand Explore Bike Share by 30 stations and 300 bikes. One of those stations is planned to be located at the University of Memphis.
“With a campus that’s almost five square kilometers in a booming retail and food district, Explore Bike Share would allow students an easier, exciting way to engage in college experience,” Studdard said.
South Memphis community member Lydia Johnson said the bicycles are great for those who struggle with having a source of transportation.
“I think them placing these here is a wonderful idea,” Johnson said. “With this being a low-income community, I think a lot of people who have trouble getting to work or school, who can’t afford a car or maybe missed the bus, will find these bikes really useful.”
To rent a bike, customers use the BCycle app to make payments. Each ride is an hour long and can be extended at any station for an additional charge of $5 per hour.
Despite an extra fee for another hour, riders can also keep the bike for as long as they need it, paying per ride, per month or per year.
A couple decides to double up on one scooter and try to ride around the Crosstown Concourse courtyard area. BIRD scooters have become a fun new form of transportation to get around the city.
Anna Vanclef tries out the Bird Scooter around the Concourse courtyard area. Vanclef was out with her family after looking inside the Crosstown Courtyard area, and they decided to check out the Bird scooters.
Memphian Ian Hunter rides his Explore bike from his apartment at Crosstown Concourse through the midtown area. There are Explore bike stations all throughout Memphis, including the Crosstown building.
University of Memphis alumn, Angela Johnson, rides through the fountain at the Crosstown Concourse building. Johnson finds the Explore bikes a very great idea for Memphians trying to find a new way to get around the city.
Lashonte Anderson and her siblings are riding around Overton Park on their Bird Scooters. Bird scooters are the new form of transportation in Memphis that have grown in popularity.
