Course to be rolled out across 570 schools in Ireland (80% of all schools)

Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, and the Irish School of Excellence (ISOE) today announced the launch of Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. The first-of-its-kind programme in Ireland is designed to educate transition year, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Youthreach and after school students on safe and responsible riding practises for the use of shared e-scooters.

The ISOE is Ireland’s largest driver education programme, working with over 570 secondary schools nationwide. Covering almost 80% of schools nationally, the ISOE and Bird will roll out Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course as soon as legislation governing their use is passed. The as the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 makes it way through the Oireachtas to allow for e-scooters on Irish roads, and ahead of Councils throughout Ireland beginning licensing processes this year.

The course is used to encourage young people to adopt a safety-led approach to driving, and is available to Leaving Cert pupils preparing to take driving lessons, as cars and micro mobility devices increasingly share the road. The pioneering ‘E-scooter Safety Module’ will provide pupils with an overview of the law governing e-scooters; a guide on how to ensure pedestrian safety while using e-scooters; tuition on starting and moving off safely, as well as a tutorial on how to park safely.

Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is rapidly expanding. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in over 350 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase at www.bird.co and via leading retailers and distribution partners. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates to provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for people who live and work there.