LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Bird e-scooters will soon be available in Lexington, the University of Kentucky announced Wednesday.
The company was recently chosen as UK's preferred e-scooter vendor and will begin releasing its scooters at bike racks throughout campus on Saturday, August 1. The scooters will also be available to the Lexington community at large.
Bird's e-scooters will also be an option on the menu of benefits available to eligible UK Commute Club members.
"We're excited to diversify the transportation options to help students, employees, and visitors get to, from, and around the University," said Sandra Broadus, UK Transportation Services' alternative transportation manager. "Bird is a leader in the shared e-scooter industry, and we're looking forward to partnering with them to make car-free access to campus easier."
E-scooters first launched in Lexington in October 2019. With 45% of all city-wide trips ending on UK's campus, the university encourages riders to adhere to proper etiquette and implement the following riding practices:
- E-scooters on campus must be parked at bike racks. Don't leave the scooter in the middle of a sidewalk or block a public pathway.
- E-scooters are not allowed inside buildings on UK's campus.
- E-scooters are permitted to ride on sidewalks on campus, but they are not allowed on sidewalks off-campus.
- Always yield to pedestrians and be courteous. This could include dismounting during class changes or other periods of high congestion.
- E-scooters are permitted in bike lanes and must follow the rules of the road like any other vehicle.
- Don't double ride! While it's fun to flock with friends, make sure you're riding solo, and keep physically distanced from others.
- Stay alert and save the selfies and music until after the ride.
- Helmets are highly recommended while riding an e-scooter.
You can ride the e-scooters by downloading the Bird app and creating an account with your @uky.edu email address.
