Micromobility firm Bird has emphasised its environmental 'mission' as part of plans to go public on the New York Stock Exchange later this year.
In a blog post, founder Travis VanderZanden described the planned listing - which could value the company at $2.3bn - as a “notable start”.
But he admitted there is more work to be done as it links up with special purpose acquisition company Switchback II in order to go public.
“We must make climate-friendly transportation accessible to everyone if we’re to reverse the damage that the current transportation paradigm is doing to our planet. Our merger with Switchback II will enable us to remain steadfast in this mission,” he says.
VanderZanden says Bird will offer more diverse vehicles that accommodate the needs of a broader population and the demands of different trip types.
“We will listen carefully to feedback, seek diverse perspectives and challenge ourselves to develop the next generation of accessible mobility solutions that leave no-one behind,” he adds.
Since 2007, VanderZanden points out that Bird’s shared microelectric service has grown from 10 vehicles into a global fleet providing tens of millions of trips to riders in over 200 cities annually.
According to VanderZanden, the company's e-scooters introduced an environmentally-friendly alternative to cars that nearly quadrupled the number of micromobility trips in the US from 35 million in 2017 to 136 million in 2019.
“Over this time, we’ve helped reduce carbon emissions in cities by decreasing reliance on gas-powered cars,” he continues.
“Of the hundreds of billions of car trips under five miles made every year, tens of millions are now being replaced by electric alternatives.”
The listing is expected to happen in the third quarter of 2021.
