WeGo Public Transit, Nashville’s public transit agency, has announced a pilot programme with micro-mobility company Bird to bridge first- and last-kilometre transit gaps using eco-friendly micro-electric scooters.

Transit gaps in communities represent barriers to public transit access for workers and students as well as medical personnel and other essential workers. These barriers can result in an overreliance on petrol-powered cars that dirty the air and clog streets. Through this collaboration, Bird and WeGo aim to improve residents’ access to eco-friendly transit alternatives and increase adoption of public transportation in the city.

By pairing WeGo’s expertise, insights and data about transit usage patterns with Bird’s operational data and experience, the two organisations are creating a programme that addresses specific transit gaps in the community. Through the programme, individuals traveling to or from locations such as Nolensville Pike, Gallatin Pike and Murfreesboro Pike should have consistent and reliable access to Bird scooters to reach their final destination, last kilometre journeys often previously taken by car.

“Mode shift on a massive scale requires partnerships and collaborations across companies such as Bird and public organisations like WeGo,” said Brian Buccella, senior vice president at Bird. “Together, we can go further and have an even greater impact on providing people with a clean, safe alternative to transportation options that result in tailpipe emissions. We look forward to seeing the results of our collaboration with WeGo and applaud the city’s commitment to eco-friendly transportation alternatives that complement their existing transit networks.”

This partnership highlights Bird’s commitment to working with cities to provide bespoke programmes to fit their needs. Since launching in Nashville in spring 2018, Bird has remained focused on partnering with the city to provide a service for its nearly 700,000 residents and hundreds of thousands of annual visitors.

In 2021, Bird riders in Nashville helped contribute an estimated $750,000 in positive economic impact to local businesses to aid with economic recovery. That same year, Bird also saw an increase in female ridership in the city.

Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is expanding rapidly. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in more than 350 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase online and via retailers and distribution partners.

The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Regional Transportation Authority are operating bodies of WeGo Public Transit, which serves 26 local bus routes, nine regional bus routes, and one train serving Davidson and Wilson Counties.