Bird collaborates with Irish School of Excellence to deliver Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course

Credit: Bird

Micro-mobility operator Bird and the Irish School of Excellence (ISOE) have 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 practices for the use of shared e-scooters.

ISOE is Ireland’s largest driver education programme, working with over 570 secondary schools nationwide, covering almost 80 per cent of schools nationally. The announcement comes after the publication of the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 in October 2021 to allow for e-scooters on Irish roads, and ahead of councils throughout Ireland beginning licensing processes in 2022.

Once e-scooters are legalised in Ireland, Bird’s ‘E-scooter Safety Course’ module will serve as part of the Irish School of Excellence’s existing ‘Driver Education Course’. The course is used to encourage young people to adopt a safety-led approach to driving and is available to LCA 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; and tuition on starting and moving off safely; as well as a tutorial on how to park safely.

Kieran O’Brien, CEO and Founder of the Irish School of Excellence, said: “As our transport network evolves to embrace more sustainable travel options, such as shared e-scooter schemes, so too should driving education. It has been heartening to witness first-hand Bird’s proactivity in this space. Together, we have devised a course that will equip young people across Ireland with the education necessary to use e-scooters safely on Irish roads.”

Charlotte Bailey, General Manager for UK and Ireland at Bird, said: “Safety is of paramount importance to Bird. As Ireland prepares to embrace shared e-scooter schemes, it is essential that the public is educated on how to use e-scooters safely. Bird is proud to work with the Irish School of Excellence, an organisation with enormous reach, to spearhead Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. At Bird, we enforce an age limit of 18 years across our platform, but we believe that it is important to begin instilling e-scooter safety early to ensure the next generation ride responsibly.”