[Photo: Bird Rides, Inc.]
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Bird Scooters are shot down by the City of Fresno… until an agreement can be reached.
The City has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Bird Rides Inc., giving them until until Sunday, September 9th to remove all of their scooters until an operating policy and a business agreement can be reached.
City officials say the Santa Monica based company did not officially approach them to get the proper permissions and licenses.
Bird has been accused of using similar “ask forgiveness instead of permission” tactics in virtually every city in which they have established operations.
San Diego, Boston, Nashville, and Kansas City have issued similar cease and desist letters, placed restrictions on their use, or banned them entirely.
The City of Fresno said it has received numerous ADA complaints and heard growing concerns about people using scooters without helmets or riding on sidewalks in violation of state law. Users have also left Bird scooters on lawns or blocking sidewalks and entryways.
The City of Fresno says contrary to claims made by Bird to local users in a social media campaign this week stating that Fresno is considering a ban on scooters, officials have expressed to Bird that the Administration is willing to work with them so they can operate safely and profitably within the city limits.
“We want to be business friendly – but friendliness goes both ways. We will continue to embrace different forms of transportation, but not at the expense of safety or public process,” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand. “We appreciate Bird’s eagerness to establish themselves here before their competitors do, but it’s not fair to the thousands of businesses in Fresno who play by the rules, received the proper permits and licenses, and are operating legally.”
City officials have a meeting scheduled with Bird representatives early next week to discuss parameters for entering into a business agreement.
