Product Profile: Bird & Spin
INDUSTRY
transportation
Category
mobility services
H-Score
72
ranked 6th of 18 within the transportation industry
ranked 9th of 76 overall
product descriptions
Bird offers access to shared dockless electric scooters and electric bikes through a smartphone app. Bird is available in 450 communities globally, in many US cities and 130 college campuses in the US.(2) In September, 2023, Bird acquired Spin, which is operating independently as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bird. Spin also offers shared dockless electric scooters and electric bikes. Spin is available in 45 cities and 28 college campuses in the US.(3)
product use
After downloading the app and setting up an account, both Bird and Spin users are given a map interface and can select from available e-bikes and electric scooters. Users (presumably) walk to the location of their selected vehicle, ride the vehicle to their destination, and park it. Users pay on a per trip basis. Bird and Spin are also integrated with Google Maps, which enables users to access and reserve Bird or Spin vehicles directly through their maps.
who’s affected
According to an industry study of micromobility users in general (not specific to Bird or Spin), users are spread across the general population, but the following groups are overrepresented: men, high-income earners, people ages 18-24 and 25-44 and White people.(4)
influence on health-related behaviors
EATING
neutral influence
There is no obvious connection between the use of Bird’s and Spin’s services and a user’s eating habits.
PHYSICAL ACTVITY
moderate positive influence
Bird and Spin influence physical activity to the degree to which its users use the services in addition to or as a substitute for car travel, which requires less physical activity. Their two modes – e-bikes and electric scooters – offer different levels of activity, with e-bikes requiring users to be more active. (Note that Bird and Spin both use e-assist bikes that require pedaling.)
Bird has indicated that one in three of its scooter rides displaced car or rideshare trips.(5) Spin has indicated that 25% of its scooter and bike trips (and 33% of trips in car-centric cities) displaced car or rideshare trips and that 25% of its trips connected riders with public transit.(6) In addition, a recent industry analysis of scooter and bike share use indicates a significant displacement of automobile trips: 37% of scooter trips are in place of taxi, rideshare or personal auto. On the other hand, the study showed 39% replaced walking.(7)
An industry report of micromobility use in general (not specific to Bird or Spin) found that 27% of users listed “exercise and recreation” as their reason for using a shared bike or scooter.(8)
In addition, Spin’s research found that nearly 70 percent of its users use shared e-scooters to get to the gym, fitness classes, or hiking trails.(9)
- Expand access to bike share service.
Sleeping
neutral to slight positive influence
The micromobility services from Bird and Spin have no obvious direct effects on sleeping, although to the extent that they influence physical activity and time spent outdoors, they could indirectly influence sleep as both of those behaviors are positively correlated with better sleep.
Engaging Socially
slight to moderate positive influence
To the extent that Bird and Spin facilitate people leaving their homes by providing multiple low-cost transportation options, they could lead to casual social interactions.
The open-air nature of both of their transportation modes makes it easier for riders to see, recognize, and stop to greet other people along the way than if they were traveling by car.
Both Bird and Spin promote riding in groups by offering the ability for multiple scooters to be unlocked/rented by a single user.
An industry report of micromobility use in general (not specific to Bird or Spin) found that 27% of users listed “social activities, entertainment and dining out” as their reason for using a shared bike or scooter.(10)
In a Spin survey, 63% of e-scooter riders agreed or strongly agreed that access to shared e-scooters allows them to make personal connections and socialize with friends and family.(11)
- Promote (through discounts or other means) riding in pairs or groups.
- Offering city/town tours on the bikes/scooters (see below) could also bring people together.
Getting Outdoors
moderate to strong positive influence
Both transportation modes offered by Bird and Spin take place outdoors, thus to the extent that Bird promotes substituting car rides and public transportation with open-air modes, it leads to more time spent outdoors.
A Spin survey of e-scooter riders found that 79% rated the ability to “explore the outdoors and my surroundings for fun” as an important or very important benefit of riding an e-scooter.(12)
- Offer city/town tours on the bikes/scooters, either with a tour guide or a self-touring app.
Notes
“Micromobility” refers to a range of personal vehicles ridden at speeds of approximately 15 mph or less.
Bird Secures Permit Extensions, Expands to New U.S. Cities. Bird website. August 23, 2022.
Spin website, accessed November 28, 2023.
North American Bike and Scootershare Association (NABSA). 4th Annual Micromobility State of the Industry Report (2022), p.12.
Bird. 7 Ways Bird is Increasing Global Access to Transportation Options. Bird Cities Blog, July 2, 2019.
Spin. New Research Shows Positive Impacts of Micromobility May Be Underestimated. Spin Blog, last modified February 10, 2022, accessed September 9, 2022.
NABSA (2022), p. 4.
NABSA (2022), p. 7.
Spin, “It’s Like a Mobile Meditation”: Positive Impacts of E-Scooter Riding on Mental Health and Wellbeing, December 8, 2021, p. 28. Accessed September 9, 2022.
NABSA (2022), p. 7.
Spin, “It’s Like a Mobile Meditation,” p. 27.
Spin, “It’s Like a Mobile Meditation,” p. 24.