Whitewater: Council moves discussion extending Bird Scooter contract to upcoming meeting 

By Chris Spangler

The City of Whitewater Common Council Tuesday delayed action on requests by Bird Scooters until questions are addressed.

Department of Public Works Director Brad Marquardt reported that the city’s original one-year agreement with Bird Scooters expired June 30, and the company was seeking an amendment extending the contract to April 30, 2023, with automatic renewals for successive six-month terms.

The agreement can be terminated without cause with a 30-day prior notice.

Bird also requested having 24-hour service.

“I did mention to them the concern we had as staff, especially the police department, that was with students using them after attending certain establishments downtown late at night,” Marquardt said.

He said Bird Scooters does offer Safe Start, requiring that people wanting to use the scooters between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. unlock them by correctly entering a keyword into the app.

“I do not find that very satisfying in knowing that all they have to do is enter a keyword, so I would still recommend that we keep the hours as is for operation,” Marqardt said.

Whitewater Common Council President Dawsey Smith said she had received emails from citizens concerned about scooters being left about town, in yards and on sidewalks.

Marquardt said there is a contact number people may call to report complaints, and he would get that sent out to concerned citizens.

Councilman Jim Allen said he did not think the council should extend the contract until the concerns about abandoned scooters had been addressed. 

He suggested bringing Bird Scooters representatives back before the council to discuss them, and that was the council concensus.