E-Scooter Program Ends at Yokota Airbase

This may be an example to other military bases that the juice is not worth the squeeze to start up an e-scooter program on other U.S. military bases:

The flock of electric scooters that helmeted riders used to zipped around this sprawling airlift hub in western Tokyo is taking wing, for good.

The Bird Scooter Program at Yokota, the headquarters for U.S. Forces Japan, 5th Air Force and the 374th Airlift Wing, ends Sept. 30 and will not be renewed, Joshua Toellner, CEO at YokoWERX, the innovation hub on base, told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

The contractor, Bird Rides Japan, elected not to renew the contract and will remove the 30 electric scooters at 26 parking stations around the base between Wednesday and Monday, Toellner said. 

Bird Rides Japan, based in Shibuya, did not respond Tuesday to messages from Stars and Stripes seeking comment. 

The Air Force paid more per ride than it earned from scooter user fees, Toellner said. Bird’s earnings were also disappointing, he said.

“Bird runs throughout Tokyo and other locations,” he said. “They are seeing they are not making the money that it takes for them to come out and do maintenance, recharge and relocate the scooters.”

Stars & Stripes

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