Bird and EMT Madrid launch Europe’s first joint bike-share integration

Credit: Bird

Micro-mobility operator Bird has announced that, in partnership with the Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid (EMT Madrid), it has launched Europe’s first joint bike-share integration, with shared Bird Bikes now integrated into the Spanish capital’s Mobility 360 transit app and Madrid’s BiciMAD public bike-share service now accessible through the Bird app.

The joint integration follows the city’s historic €1 billion investment in EMT Madrid announced by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida in January 2022. By offering greater visibility and access to both BiciMAD and Bird Bikes, the integration will help EMT Madrid to achieve the first of its four key corporate objectives: to be a green and decarbonised company with a sustainable energy model.

“The Madrid Municipal Transport Company [EMT Madrid] is taking a leading role in bringing more sustainable mobility solutions to residents and visitors, and Bird is committed to doing everything that we can to support them,” said Brian Buccella, Bird’s Senior Vice President of Policy. “This innovative joint bike-share integration is a perfect example of how cities and transportation providers can work hand in hand to improve mobility for everyone.”

How active and shared mobility is a win-win for cities by unlocking climate and economic benefits

BiciMAD is the most recent European capital bike-share to integrate with Bird as part of the company’s exclusive Smart Bikeshare Program, launching just one month after its integration with Lisbon’s Gira bike-share.

To access BiciMAD bikes, riders can simply tap the clearly marked bike icons on the Bird service map. Each icon indicates a BiciMAD station and the number of available bikes at each. Once tapped, riders will immediately connect to BiciMAD, where rentals can be started in a matter of moments.

As part of this integration, Bird Bikes are now also visible and accessible in the Madrid Mobility 360 app, alongside BiciMAD and BiciMAD Go vehicles. The location and battery level of Bird Bikes are clearly visible, as well as a feature that allows riders to calculate the route, time and estimated cost of the journey.

The joint integration will make it significantly easier for Madrid’s millions of residents and annual visitors to explore the Spanish capital by bike. Madrid also joins cities like Rome and Bordeaux in offering Bird’s full multimodal fleet of eco-friendly scooters, bikes and integrated alternatives, such as public bikes and e-mopeds.