Bird will park its scooters for Round-Up week

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, September 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – Bird Scooters is closing up shop for Round-Up week. Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram said that while he could have used city ordinances to stop scooter traffic, he was glad he didn’t have to do so.

“We had good discussions and good communication,” he said of the California-based e-scooter rental company. “They decided they would be a good community partner and put those things away.”

Byram said his officers face enough problems with the crowds that come to the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon.

“That was one of the predictable things I saw from the public safety aspect,” he said. “Introducing those scooters into our already congested streets and sidewalks that weren’t built for the amount of traffic we get for that week makes me grateful Bird decided to do that.”

The scooters will be picked up and put away beginning at midnight Saturday. They will be returning on Sunday, Sept. 19.