Culver City Begins Six-Month Scooter Trial

Culver City Evaluating Innovative Last-Mile Transportation Solutions 

Bird, the first company to participate in the City of Culver City’s six-month trial period for electric scooter sharing, implemented a soft launch today in Culver City.

To encourage residents to ride safely, a community safety event will be held on Monday, July 30 at 12:00 p.m., allowing the public to test the scooters, learn the rules of scooter usage, and hear more about the City's transportation goals. During the event, Culver City Mayor Thomas Small and Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells will be present to talk to press about the city’s transportation goals and encourage citizens to ride responsibly. Bird representatives will also be present to provide free helmets to the first 100 people and demonstrate how to ride and park a scooter. 

• WHAT: Community safety event celebrating electric scooter soft launch in Culver City
• WHEN: Monday, July 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• WHERE: City of Culver City Transportation Facility - 4343 Duquesne Avenue (at Jefferson Boulevard), Culver City, CA, 90232
• WHO: Thomas Small, Mayor, City of Culver City; Meghan Sahli-Wells, Vice Mayor, City of Culver City; Bird, Inc. Representatives; and Members of the Public

Electric scooter share has recently appeared in cities around the world. Like many cities, Culver City is now studying the best way to address this new transportation model. In an effort to improve mobility and decrease carbon emissions in Culver City, the City Council decided on July 9, 2018 to allow dockless electric stand-up scooters in the City via a six-month interim operating agreement. The city’s interim operating agreement regulating electric scooters reflects its broader mission to improve communities by getting people out of cars to reduce traffic and cut carbon emissions. 

“We are committed to both innovation and equity in addressing the crisis of mobility in our city and our region and to provide the best, most reliable transportation options available to our community. These dynamic collaborations with innovative companies and new technologies will support and enhance our vital public transit system and help meet the transportation demands of our community," said Culver City Mayor Thomas Small. 

“Scooter share offers a convenient mobility option for the first and last mile connection with public transit.  With alternative transportation services such as transit and scooter share, we hope to better manage mobility and improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit Culver City.” said Art Ida, Transportation Director for the City of Culver City.

Scooter riders are required to wear a helmet, must be over the age of 18 with a valid drivers’ license, and riding on the sidewalk is prohibited. Find out more about scooters in Culver City, provide feedback, follow the issue and receive updates on the City's website.  Through its agreement with the City, Bird is required to respond to questions and concerns from the public about their scooters, and to ensure that their scooters are not interfering with the safety and well-being of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other members of the public. Members of the public can contact bird by phone at 1-866-205-2442, via text message at (213) 344-0211 or by email.

About Culver City

Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 39,000 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport.  Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, "small town" charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theatre, and art galleries. 

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