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City authorities say they were not contacted by Bird, a California-based scooter-sharing company, until scooters appeared in the streets on Friday.
PROVIDENCE – How many birds have you seen in the downtown streets? ? There were at least 50 more in the city on Friday, but they do not fly. These birds are electric scooters.
"I think it's a great idea," said Estevie Hidalgo, a Cranston resident who checks scooters parked near the Trinity Repertory Company on Washington Street. "Sometimes you just want to walk around … Now you can just take one and see the city."
Bird is a California-based electric scooter sharing company – a kind of Uber that makes scooters available to rent through a smartphone application. For $ 1 fee, followed by $ 0.15 for every minute of use, one can rent a scooter with the help of a smart phone and ride in Providence.
It was not known how many Bird scooters were available in Providence, but their arrival was unexpected by city officials.
"We have just started to communicate with the company," said Victor Morente, press secretary to Mayor Jorge Elorza. "I do not have much more than that."
This also seems to have been the case in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts, where scooters appeared without notice on Friday.
This seems to have been Bird's strategy in a number of cities across the country in recent months. The company has run into numerous communities in which it has released scooters unannounced, in at least one case receiving orders to stop and refrain citing legal and safety concerns .
In Providence, residents expressed their curiosity about Friday's scooters
"As long as people respect them and put them where they are supposed to be, I think it's a very good idea "Said Kristin Gaudreau. "It does not cost much either."
Gaudreau said that he also plans to become a charger, bringing scooters home to recharge batteries up to $ 100 a night.
"I do not think it's too much of a question that the city has not been warned," she added. "The only thing I think would be a problem would be to set up charging stations around."
"It's great because it gives you something to do," Hidalgo said. "When you see something like that coming for its citizens, it makes you proud of your city."
Bird has not responded to several requests for comments.
With reports from the Associated Press.
kandrade @ providencejournal.com
401-277-7646
On Twitter: @Kevprojo
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