Bend’s e-bike sharing company, Bird Bikes, has filed for bankruptcy; city will review pilot project this year

(Update: Adding video, comments from city parking manager, Councilor Mendez)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- You have probably seen the more than 200 Bird e-bikes around the city of Bend. The company behind them recently filed for bankruptcy, but the city of Bend doesn't see them leaving town.

"They have no plans of shutting down," Bend Parking Services Division Manager Tobias Marx said Thursday. "The plans are that they're positioning themselves better than before."

 Bird Bikes were introduced to Bend in a pilot project last summer, with mixed reactions from the community.

Some complain the bikes are often abandoned around the city. Others say it provides a sustainable way for tourists and residents to explore Bend.

Marx said, "It's a strategic bankruptcy that they file to position themselves financially better than before. They actually, as part of that, raised $25 million. And that has its own finances to help them through that process."

 The pilot project is scheduled to end in May of this year, giving the city time to evaluate if the program will continue, and how.

City Councilor Ariel Mendez said they will look at "how is the program going, what kind of problems are we seeing, what are the benefits of it? And we'll be deciding if the city of Bend wants to proceed with any kind of micro-mobility in the future."

The city is assessing how often they're used and who is riding them.

Marx said, "The ridership numbers were a little bit down. I think there were multiple factors that, like last year we had like a lot of tourists."

The city staff will get feedback from the public and make a proposal to city councilors.

There are more than 200 Bird Bikes in Bend, with about 30 "nests," which are mobility points for the bikes. 

Mendez would like the bikes to have more designated parking places. 

"We should probably learn from the European model, which is there should be a fee," he said. "If somebody doesn't park it properly, you should pay for that."

 If you see Bird bikes which need to be picked up, you can submit a request through the Bend Works phone app, or on the city's website. City staff then relay the information to Bird.