SLOW YOUR ROLL. Bird, a global company known for its rentable e-scooters and e-bikes, won't be expanding its coverage area in Eau Claire just yet. After opposition from community members in August and September, Bird rescinded its recent expansion request.

Bird, the global rentable e-scooters and e-bikes biz founded by Blugold alum Travis VanderZanden, has withdrawn its Eau Claire expansion request following significant opposition from locals. 

Volume One first reported the company looked to expand its coverage area back in August, when the City of Eau Claire Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) discussed the request. BPAC voted to move the request forward at its Aug. 18 meeting.

After that, Bird's potential expansion was scheduled for further discussion at the Waterways, Parks & Urban Forestry Committee meeting on Sept. 28.

Between the two meetings, pushback from community members boomed.

Common points of concern or complaint made by locals (via social media, in direct communication to City staff and representatives, etc.) regarding Bird Scooters included the illegal use of Bird Scooters on sidewalks and scooters being parked or left in unapproved areas, among others.

Ultimately, the Waterways, Parks & Urban Forestry Committee unanimously opposed Bird’s expansion request.

Bird Scooter Usage & Community Complaints Data, via City of Eau Claire

While not difficult to find through social media, formal complaints made to the City about Bird scooters have seemingly been limited prior to the company's expansion request. 

• Between January and August 2026, the scooters had been used over 11,400 times, according to a spreadsheet shared with Volume One. During that time period, just two reports (citing "bad parking") were made to the City, with seven total "parking relocation requests" also made.
• In a 2025 spreadsheet shared with Volume One, a total six instances of "bad parking" were reported to the City, with 12 total "parking relocation requests" made.

Per Eau Claire's pedestrian zone ordinance, riding the scooters on sidewalks is prohibited and carries a potential fine of $213.10.

That decision was not the end-all-be-all – final approval of Bird’s expansion would come from City staff, not committees or the City Council – but it did signal residents’ opposition had made an impact.

“(The rescinding) was mainly due to opposition and the difficulty that adds to the process,” Deputy City Engineer Al Rinka told Volume One.

“They are looking at trying to make some improvements to their citation fee schedule to try and improve the mis-parked scooter problem that we get most complaints about,” Rinka continued, “and they may try to another expansion request next year.”

Currently, Bird pays an annual permit fee of $584 to operate in the city of Eau Claire.

Read Volume One's first article on Bird's expansion request online • Additional information on use of Bird scooters and other e-scooters in Eau Claire can be found at www.eauclairewi.gov/357/eScooters