Despite its parent company's recent bankruptcy announcement in the United States, Bird Canada will once again provide e-scooters in Okotoks this year.
Bird Canada's U.S. counterpart, Bird Global, announced on Dec. 20 the company was restructuring amid bankruptcy proceedings in the state of Florida.
“We've met with Bird after we saw that and they have confirmed they're still available for Canadian operations,” said Town of Okotoks CAO Elaine Vincent.
“We are under contract with them in 2024 and they are indicating they will be back here to provide service again starting April 1,” she added.
With 2024 marking the final year of the e-scooter pilot project between Bird Canada and Okotoks, Vincent said the Town will have to decide what to do in 2025.
“We'll likely go out to market to see what other benefits we can have it (the e-scooter program) bring to Okotoks,” she said. “We'll try to determine the value-added proposition for Okotoks so that the ROI for using our public infrastructure is returned a bit more to Okotoks.”
The restructuring, a company statement says, is aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and better positioning it for long-term sustainable growth.
“Bird Canada is not part of the filing and Canada remains a key priority market for the business,” said Bird Canada's chief operating officer, Alex Petre, in an email. “As such, I want to underline that there is no impact on Canadian operations today, or in the future.”
With files from Jack Farrell/St. Albert Gazette
