How to Unlock and End Your Ride on Scooters and Ebikes with Cable Locks
Unlocking a Scooter with a Cable Lock
1. Enable Bluetooth on Your Device
- [iOS only] Go to your phone’s settings > Bluetooth > Turn on Bluetooth.
- [iOS only] Give Bluetooth permission to the Bird app by navigating to your phone’s settings > Bird app > Enable Bluetooth.
- [Android only] Make sure location permissions are enabled for the Bird app.
2. Start Your Ride
- Scan the vehicle using the Bird app to begin your ride.
3. Release the Cable Lock
- Press the round button on the cable lock; it should light up.
- Wait for the light to turn blue, then the cable pin should pop out of the lock.
4. Free the Cable
- Pull the cable free from the lock and the bike rack.
5. Start Riding!
Ending Your Ride on a Scooter with a Cable Lock
1. Find a Bike Rack
- Move your scooter to the nearest bike rack. The Bird app may show bike rack locations with a “P” symbol.
2. Align Your Scooter
- Position your scooter along the bike rack so it doesn’t obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
3. Secure the Cable Lock
- Wrap the cable around the bike rack and reinsert the pin.
4. End Your Ride
- Use the Bird app to end your ride.
5. Take a Photo
- The app will prompt you to take a photo to show that you’ve parked correctly. Make sure the photo clearly shows your scooter secured to the bike rack with the cable lock.
Unlocking a Bike with a Cable Lock
1. Enable Bluetooth on Your Device
- [iOS only] Go to your phone’s settings > Bluetooth > Turn on Bluetooth.
- [iOS only] Give Bluetooth permission to the Bird app by navigating to your phone’s settings > Bird app > Enable Bluetooth.
2. Start Your Ride
- Scan the bike using the Bird app to begin your ride.
3. Release the Cable Lock
- The cable lock is located to the right of the basket.
- The lock pin will automatically pop out.
4. Free the Cable
- Pull the cable free from the bike rack and place it inside the round holder to keep it secure during your ride.
5. Start Riding!
Ending Your Ride on a Bike with a Cable Lock
1. Find a Bike Rack
- Move your bike to the nearest bike rack. The Bird app may show bike rack locations with a “P” symbol.
2. Align Your Bike
- Position your bike along the bike rack so it doesn’t obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
3. Secure the Cable Lock
- Wrap the cable around the bike rack and reinsert the pin.
4. End Your Ride
- Use the Bird app to end your ride.
5. Take a Photo
- The app will prompt you to take a photo to show that you’ve parked correctly. Make sure the photo clearly shows your bike secured to the bike rack with the cable lock.
Improper Parking Fines
- Local authorities may issue fines for improper parking. Below is a list of maximum fines and links to more details about parking regulations:
| City | Maximum parking fine | More details |
| Sacramento | $27.50 | City of Sacramento website |
| San Francisco | $150.00 | SFMTA website |
| Washington, DC | $10.00 | DDOT website |