London shared e-bike company Forest and North American micromobility operator Bird have announced an integration that will allow Bird users travelling to the capital to access Forest’s e-bike service via the Bird app.
Forest has over 15,000 bikes in London which are available to hire from 13 boroughs, with 1.2m rides completed each month. CEO and co-founder Agustin Guilisasti said they were "delighted" to announce this partnership, which will provide easier access for Bird's five million users.
"The collaboration represents a powerful step toward unifying the fragmented micromobility market, demonstrating the potential of innovation to drive sustainable change," he said.
"By making it easier for visitors to London to experience the city like locals, we aim to boost the share of daily trips made by bike and magnify the transformative benefits of shared travel for communities and the environment.”
> Forest launches Cycle to Work scheme for its share e-bikes
Florida-based Bird filed for bankruptcy at the end of 2023, saying it commenced a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Earlier this year however it said it had emerged from these proceedings, under a newly organised private parent company called Third Lane Mobility Inc.
The transaction included the sale of Bird’s assets to Third Lane Mobility, which encompasses both the Bird and Spin brands. “[The] announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for us as we embark on our next step as a private company. We are a substantially stronger business financially with many opportunities ahead that position us for long-term growth around the world,” said Michael Washinushi, co-CEO of Bird.
Of the partnership with Forest, Washinushi said it, “aligns perfectly with our mission to make sustainable and affordable mobility accessible to everyone.
“By integrating Forest’s e-bike service into the Bird app and evolving into a platform, we’re supporting cleaner, greener cities and offering our global customer base of over five million active riders a seamless way to explore the best of London.
“We also plan to expand with other trusted providers worldwide in the near future, further enhancing mobility options for our riders, wherever they travel to. We’re thrilled to join forces with Forest to provide an innovative solution that benefits both residents and the millions of visitors who come to explore this incredible city each year.”
