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Bird e-bikes coming home to roost in new partnership with Atlanta Housing

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  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 19:36 GMT by WSB-TV
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Bird’s New E‑Bike Initiative Brings Mobility to Atlanta’s Low‑Income Communities

A fresh partnership between the electric‑bike startup Bird and the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) has just kicked off a pilot program that will give tenants of the Home Roost housing project access to Bird’s new line of e‑bikes. The initiative—announced on WSB‑TV’s “Atlanta” news desk—aims to improve transportation options for low‑income residents, reduce reliance on cars, and promote healthier, greener commutes.

What the Partnership Looks Like

Under the agreement, AHA will lease 150 Bird e‑bikes to be stationed at key points around the Home Roost complex in Atlanta’s Southwest corridor. Tenants can register through the Bird mobile app, which will be pre‑loaded with a special discount code that covers 50 % of the first month’s usage fees. The bikes themselves are a newer, lighter model that features a 20‑mph top speed, a removable 70‑Wh battery, and an integrated GPS tracker that ensures safety and ease of return.

The AHA has set up a “Bike Hub” at the Home Roost community center, where residents can pick up and drop off the e‑bikes. Staff members—many of whom are current AHA employees—will help with account setup and provide basic training on bike operation and maintenance. The program will run for 12 months, after which the partnership will be evaluated on ridership, resident satisfaction, and environmental impact.

Why Atlanta Housing Wanted a Bike‑Sharing Option

“Transportation is a huge barrier for our residents,” said Karen Henderson, Director of Community Services at the Atlanta Housing Authority. “Many of them live too far from public‑transport stops, and most of the buses that do serve the area run on diesel. An e‑bike fleet gives them a reliable, affordable, and zero‑emission option to get to work, school, or the grocery store.”

Henderson highlighted that the Home Roost project, which houses roughly 600 families, sits 15 miles from downtown Atlanta and is surrounded by a patchwork of single‑track roads and pedestrian trails that are currently underused. The partnership will also help the AHA meet its own sustainability goals, which include reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging active lifestyles among tenants.

Bird’s Motivation

Bird’s CEO, Rishi Kapoor, explained the company’s strategic pivot toward e‑bikes in a brief statement to WSB‑TV. “E‑bikes are the logical next step for us. They’re a great bridge between scooters and cars, offering more power and range while keeping the operational costs low,” he said. Kapoor added that Bird is looking to expand its presence in “micro‑markets” like public housing where there is a high density of potential users but limited traditional transportation options.

Bird will pay the AHA a lease fee of $3.20 per bike per day, and the company will cover maintenance and insurance costs. In return, Bird will receive data on usage patterns—an opportunity to refine its algorithm and improve the rider experience.

Community Feedback

During the initial rollout, the program already received positive feedback from residents. Maria Gonzales, a mother of three who lives in the Home Roost complex, said the e‑bike allowed her to drop her kids off at a nearby elementary school without relying on a ride‑share or public bus. “It’s fast, it’s cheap, and it’s fun for the kids,” she told the reporter. Another resident, Thomas Lee, noted that the e‑bike helped him get to a job interview in downtown Atlanta on time, something that would have been difficult with the limited bus schedule.

Residents were also encouraged to share safety concerns or suggestions via a dedicated Slack channel that Bird set up for the pilot. Early indications suggest that participants value the convenience of having a bike that can be unlocked directly from the app, rather than having to locate a docking station.

The Bigger Picture

The partnership is part of a broader push across the United States for “last‑mile” solutions that reduce car usage in low‑income communities. Cities like New York and Washington, D.C., have experimented with e‑bike sharing in public housing complexes, and several studies have linked such initiatives to reduced traffic congestion, lower emissions, and improved health outcomes.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Healthy Transportation report, “increasing access to electric bikes can cut a resident’s carbon footprint by up to 20% and encourage physical activity that reduces obesity rates in underserved neighborhoods.” The Home Roost e‑bike pilot is a direct embodiment of that policy vision.

How to Get Involved

For tenants at Home Roost who are interested in signing up, Bird’s app is available for download on both iOS and Android. Once the app is installed, residents can search for “Home Roost” in the location field, then use the discount code “AHA2025” to activate the subsidized rate. Bird’s support team will walk users through battery charging and proper handling procedures.

The AHA also has a short training video that explains how to lock and unlock the bikes, what to do if a bike stops working, and how to report issues. This video is hosted on the AHA’s YouTube channel and can be accessed via the link posted on the Bike Hub’s notice board.

Looking Ahead

After the 12‑month pilot, Bird and the AHA will convene a joint review panel that will include community members, transportation planners, and environmental scientists. Depending on the results, the partnership could be scaled up to include other AHA properties throughout the city. If the Home Roost model proves successful, the AHA’s sustainability plan will outline a roadmap for installing additional e‑bike stations in partnership with other mobility providers.

For now, residents of the Home Roost community are getting a taste of what a cleaner, more accessible commute could look like—one pedal stroke at a time. As Bird’s e‑bike program continues to roll out, it may well become a flagship example of how public‑private collaboration can help bridge the transportation divide in Atlanta and beyond.