Scooter company Bird launches its first electric bike

Bird’s got a new electric vehicle rolling out, and it’s very different from its typical e-scooters. 

Called the Bird Cruiser, it’s a seated electric bike that’s going to become a part of Bird’s fleet of shared vehicles. 

Bird’s big enough to carry two adults. It can do pedal-assist or peg, features a 52V battery, an LCD display, a padded seat and hydraulic disc brakes.  

“Designed and engineered in California, Bird Cruiser is an inclusive electric-powered option that is approachable, easy-to-ride and comfortable on rough roads,” the company CEO Travis VanderZanden said in an e-mailed statement. 

Bird says the Cruiser will first become available in a “few test markets this summer,” either as part of Bird’s shared vehicles fleet, or via Bird Platform Partners. Bird is available in more than 100 cities around the world, and the company says the Cruiser will ultimately be available globally. 

Having started out purely as an e-scooter sharing platform, Bird expanded into actually selling vehicles as well, with its Bird One being available for $1,299. There’s no word on whether the Cruiser will become available for purchase at some point as well.