Bird and WeGo Public Transit partner to tackle transit gaps in Nashville

Credit: Bird

Micro-mobility operator Bird and WeGo Public Transit, Nashville’s public transit agency, have announced a pilot programme in which the two entities will team up to bridge first- and last-mile transit gaps in Nashville with Bird’s eco-friendly e-scooters.

Transit gaps in communities represent barriers to public transit access for workers and students, as well as medical personnel and other essential workers. This can result in an overreliance on gas-powered cars that lead to congestion on streets and increased carbon emissions. Through this innovative 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 – will have consistent and reliable access to Bird e-scooters to reach their destination – last mile journeys which were 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 of Consumer Products and Government Partnerships 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.”

Since launching in Nashville in spring 2018, Bird has remained focused on partnering with the city to provide the best possible service for its nearly 700,000 residents and hundreds of thousands of annual visitors. In 2021, Bird riders in Nashville helped to 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.