About the pilot project
In 2023, Regional Council directed staff to develop a two-year shared micromobility pilot project to license a limited number of business(es) to operate short-term e-scooter and bicycle rental services in Halifax region. The pilot supports a number of municipal goals including Action 88 of the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP), and Action 8 of Section 5.2.3 of HalifACT, to decarbonize transportation.
In 2023, Council approved By-law M-300, the Micromobility By-law, which sets rules for e-scooters and micromobility operation.
Before the two-year pilot project, a readiness study was done in 2021, which recommended a way to proceed with a micromobility system, and public feedback was gathered and summarized in a What We Heard Report published in 2020
What is shared micromobility?
Shared micromobility means services that let people use small vehicles like bikes or scooters for short trips. The most common service is bike sharing, where people can rent a bike for short trips. Other types of vehicles are also becoming popular, like electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters).
Finding and unlocking shared e-bikes and e-scooters
- Download the Bird app to find nearby e-bikes or e-scooters on the map. They each come with a helmet you can rent for free. The e-scooters and e-bikes have a BIRD logo on them and are either blue or bright orange.
- Unlock the e-bike or e-scooter and helmet if you need one.
- Ride it safely- do not ride on sidewalks, or with multiple people on the device.
- Park your scooter or bike in a designated parking zone when you are done. You can find these zones on the map in the Bird app. They may be marked with white tape or rubber mats on the ground. Some are in painted “bump out” spaces on the streets, bike corrals with green flexible bollards or in some cases, on grass.
This area will expand during the pilot.
How to contact Bird Canada
- Phone: 1-866-205-2442
- 311_halifax@birdcanada.co to get in contact with our local Halifax operations team for any general program questions or concerns, including requests to move vehicles parked incorrectly.
- Bird Canada maintains a 24-hour customer service phone number and email address for members of the public to report concerns or complaints or ask questions about the e-scooters and e-bikes:
- Phone: 1-866-205-2442
- Email: hello@bird.co for refund or payment questions or concerns.
- 311_halifax@birdcanada.co to get in contact with our local Halifax operations team for any general program questions or concerns, including requests to movevehicles parked incorrectly.
- Twitter: @BirdRideCanada
- Instagram: @Birdcanada
- Bird Canada will be responsible for parking issues, maintenance and the removal and relocation of shared e-scooters and e-bikes. Please contact Bird Canada in the following scenarios:
- if you see an improperly parked e-bike or e-scooter which is blocking the sidewalk, road, bike lane, etc.
- if you see someone riding an e-scooter improperly (e.g. without a helmet, on the sidewalk, doubling up, intoxicated, or under 16 years of age). Unsafe or intoxicated riding can also always be reported directly to law enforcement.
- if you see abandoned BIRD helmets
- if you would like to report a damaged/vandalized e-scooter or e-bike
if the issue you have reported has not been resolved within one business day, please contact the municipality at 311.
FAQ
- Where can I ride an e-scooter?
If you ride an e-scooter, you must follow the same rules as people who ride bikes. But there are a few extra rules just for e-scooters.
Where you can ride an e-scooter:
By-law M-300 (Micromobility By-law), allows you to ride an e-scooter in these places:- on roads where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less
- in bike lanes
- on shared paths (multi-use paths) along streets
You cannot do the following:- go faster than 25 km/h on roads or in bike lanes
- go faster than 15 km/h on shared paths
- ride on sidewalks
You also cannot ride e-scooters on shared paths in parks unless there are signs saying it’s allowed. Check the website to see which paths allow e-scooters.
- How to be a safe and respectful rider:
- be careful around people walking or using mobility aids like a wheelchair
- ring your bell before passing someone
- follow all traffic signs and lights
- park your e-scooter or e-bike standing up in the designated parking zones. Don’t block sidewalks, roads, doorways, driveways, bike lanes or other important spaces
You can find more information about e-scooter rules on the website here.
- Do I need to wear a helmet?
Yes, Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) requires all riders of e-scooters and e-bikes to wear a helmet at all times. Helmets are provided with the shared e-bikes and e-scooters to rent for free, or you can bring your own.
- Can someone ride on an e-scooter or e-bike with me?
Only one rider per e-scooter and e-bike is permitted. Passengers are not allowed. Do not carry, tow, push or pull another person, device or object while using your e-scooter or e-bike.
- Do I need a driver’s license to ride an e-scooter or e-bike?
No, you do not need to have a driver’s license to ride an e-scooter or e-bike, but you will need a government issued photo ID to register an account with Bird Canada.
- How old do I have to be to ride a shared e-scooter or e-bike?
Shared e-bikes and e-scooters will be available to riders aged 16 and over, but if you are 16 or 17 years old, you will require a parent or guardian to give permission when you register for a Bird account.
- What are “no ride zones” and “slow ride zones”?
In busy pedestrian areas or in areas where e-scooters or e-bikes are not allowed, specific zones are applied. “No ride zones” are areas where the e-scooter or e-bike will slow down and come to a full stop. “Slow ride zones” are areas where the e-bike or e-scooter will be limited to a maximum speed of 15km/h. The e-bikes and e-scooters will automatically detect these areas and slow down or stop gently for you. You can find details about these zones in the Bird app.
- Where can I park my e-scooter or e-bike when I’m done my ride?
You must park your Bird e-scooter or e-bike in a designated parking zone. You can find these zones on the map in the Bird app. Parking zones may be marked with white tape or rubber mats, painted “bump out” spaces on the streets, bike corrals with green flexible bollards or in some cases, on grass.
Do not:
- park your e-bike or e-scooter where it blocks other sidewalk users;
- park outside the painted/taped lines or marked parking spots for e-bikes and e-scooters;
- block bus stops, at the front or back doors of the bus; or
- block doors, driveways, ramps, stairs, handrails or other entry or exit points
- Can I bring a Bird Canada e-bike or e-scooter on a bus or ferry?
No, you cannot take your Bird e-scooter or e-bike on Halifax Transit buses or ferries.
- How much does it cost to rent an e-scooter or e-bike?
Bird Canada has many pricing options for renting an e-scooter or e-bike. They have single ride rental fees, single day passes, multiple day passes, and more. Open the Bird app on your phone for pricing information. There are also Flex Fare Zones and a Community Pricing Program which offer discounted prices.
- What are Flex Fare Zones and the Community Pricing Program and how do I register?
The municipality has partnered with United Way and Bird Canada on a more equitable micromobility initiative including Flex Fare Zones and a Community Pricing Program to reduce barriers to access so more people can use e-bike and e-scooter share.
- Flex Fare Zones
Flex Fare Zones are where fares are automatically discounted 50 per cent. You do not need to register to get this discount. Any ride that starts within a Flex-Fare Zone receives an automatic 50 per cent discount—even if you travel outside of the zone during your ride. Flex-Fare Zones are shown in the yellow areas in the map.
- Community Pricing Program
The Community Pricing Program offers enrolled users a 50 per cent discount on up to four rides per day, valid throughout the entire service area—even beyond the Flex-Fare Zones. The Community Pricing program is available to low-income users, seniors, veterans, employees of nonprofit & community-based organizations, newcomers and more.
To enroll in the Community Pricing Program, please go to the United Way Halifax website: More Equitable Micromobility - United Way Halifax
For questions about the Community Pricing Program, please contact United Way at info@unitedwayhalifax.ca or Bird Canada at access@bird.co.
Service areas are shown in blue and flex-fare zones in yellow.
For general questions or feedback regarding the pilot, please call 311.
