Bird, the electric scooter company, said Memphis riders had a $1.1 million economic impact on the city this year.
The company’s end-of-year report says Bird riders spent $100 million in cities that have the scooters. By riding instead of driving, Bird riders also saved 1.1 million gallons of gas this year, the company said.
As for spending, the company said incremental spending, especially on food and beverage, was higher in cities that have Birds versus those who don’t.
“All the data points to the same conclusion: e-scooters drive consumer spending and likely provide a significant financial boon to local economies,” said study co-author Daniel McCarthy, an assistant professor of marketing at Emory University. “Obviously cities have many factors to consider when choosing to partner with Bird or others in the micromobility industry, but the economic benefit to local businesses should not be understated.”
Female ridership in Memphis was 41 percent this year.
In another trend seen in 2021, Bird says more women are riding its scooters, especially in the Southeast. Female ridership in Memphis was 41 percent this year.
