California-based Bird Rides announces desire to establish operation in Tiffin

Tiffin, Ohio — California-based Bird Rides, Inc. has announced its search for a new partner to operate a Bird fleet management business in the City of Tiffin.

Founded in September 2017, Bird operates shared electric scooters in more than 100 cities in North America, Europe and the Middle East with 10 million rides in its first year of operation. The company was founded and is run by Travis VanderZanden, formerly an executive at Lyft and Uber. Notably it became the fastest startup to ever reach $1 billion in valuation.

Users who want to rent the scooters install the Bird app, where all available scooters are displayed. Before starting, the user supplies payment information, scans the QR code on the scooter, and begins the trip. To end the trip, the user must take a photo of the parked scooter. The price of the trip is immediately withdrawn from the user’s credit card.

According to the company’s website, Bird’s mission is to make cities more livable by reducing car usage, traffic, and carbon emissions. Bird partners with cities across the globe to develop programs that maximize the positive impact of micromobility.

Bird would like to add Tiffin to its list of cities and is searching for its first Fleet Manager partner. During riding season, a person could make up to $1,500 per week. All legal, insurance and overhead costs are covered by Bird, and Bird provides all the needed tools, guidance and support. No start-up costs or fund are required, but the Fleet Manager must have access to a vehicle to transport scooters and an indoor space to store them during winter months.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz was glad to hear the news, saying, “We’ve been in discussions with Bird and support their desire to offer another mobility solution in our community. We believe that students and residents will take advantage of it, and it will enhance our city’s quality of life.”

For more information, please visit tseoc.org, the online site for Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership’s (TSEP’s) Entrepreneurial Opportunity Clearinghouse, a new TSEP-led initiative where information on franchise, business acquisition, and other entrepreneurship business opportunities in Tiffin and Seneca County will be made publicly available.