Shared Commercial Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program

Where can I park a Bird Canada e-scooter?

At the end of each ride, all Bird Canada e-scooters will be locked to permissible public infrastructure, such as bike racks within the street furniture zone. Bird Canada e-scooters come equipped with Bluetooth locks which will unlock when riders begin the end-of-ride process allowing Bird Canada users to lock the vehicles to permitted public infrastructure when parking.

Permissible public infrastructure such as bike racks or streetlight poles can be found in the street furniture zone of sidewalks - the portion of a sidewalk that buffers pedestrians from the adjacent roadway and where elements such as trees, streetlights, hydrants, parking meters, or street furniture are typically located.

E-scooters should not be:

• parked to obstruct the pedestrian path of travel along the sidewalk, vehicular traffic on roadways, or access to roadways, driveways, or buildings.
• taken indoors or onto private property
• locked to Hamilton Bike Share exclusive hubs

Where can I ride a Bird Canada e-scooter in Hamilton?

As of June 30, 2023, shared commercial e-scooters will be available in the area approximately bound by: 

• The escarpment to the south,
• Kenilworth Avenue to the east,
• Hamilton Harbour/Cootes Paradise to the north, and
• Downtown Dundas to the west.

Where are Bird Canada e-scooters permitted to operate?

In Hamilton, e-scooters are permitted to operate on:

• Roads with a speed limit of 50 km/hr or less;
• Roads with cycling facilities, regardless of the speed limit;
• Boulevard multi-use or bike paths immediately adjacent to a street (e.g. Keddy Trail, Governors Road path, Cootes Drive path); and,
• Select paved recreation multi-use trails in a park or not adjacent to a street.

When used on a multi-use path or trail, e-scooters must not operate at a speed markedly greater than the speed of pedestrians nearby. 

In Hamilton, e-scooters are NOT PERMITTED to ride on:

• Sidewalks;
• Unpaved recreational multi-use trails; 
• In trails within most parks, unless otherwise signed to permit e-scooters; and,
• Controlled access highways (e.g., QEW, 403, Linc, Red Hill). 

The Bird Canada e-scooters will be geofenced in select areas. This means that the maximum speed will be reduced (e.g. high pedestrian areas) or the electric motor will cut in prohibited areas (e.g. sidewalks). By-law 20-269 regulates the use of e-scooters in Hamilton. Not every municipality permits e-scooters, and each has different rules about where they can be operated.

Prices to use the shared e-scooters are set by Bird Canada. Fare options include pay-as-you-go, 3-day, 7-day and monthly passes. Check out the Bird Canada app for details.

Special Fare Programs

In addition, Bird Canada will be offering eligible Hamilton residents these special fare programs. The eligibility criteria and verification for these fare programs are the responsibility of Bird Canada.

How can I report a misparked Bird Canada e-scooter or unsafe riding?

Any Bird Canada e-scooter that is inappropriately parked or being used unsafely can be reported directly to Bird Canada. Parking complaints will be dealt with within 30 minutes. Complaints can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via:

• Phone at 1-866-205-2442;
• Email at [email protected]; or,
• Directly through the Bird app. Select the triangle in the corner and submit the form.

To assist with reporting, each e-scooter has two unique identifiers.

When submitting a complaint, please provide the location and either the:

1. three-digit identifier on either side of the steering column or
2. five-digit identifier facing the rider.