Private emails reveal how multi-billion dollar startups Bird and Lime are lobbying to launch their illegal scooters in Britain

Michel Euler/AP

Lime demos its scooters in Paris.

• Exclusive: Emails obtained by Business Insider show how US scooter startups Lime and Bird are lobbying the UK to pilot electric scooters - even though they are illegal.
• A UK executive at Bird criticised "+100 years old" legislation, which outlaws scooters on British pavements and streets.
• Electric scooters are the hot new tech trend in the US, and US startups with millions of dollars in venture capital are trying to expand into Europe this year.
• But Transport for London said there won't be pilots in the UK until the law changes.

Multi-billion dollar scooter rental startups Bird and Lime are lobbying the UK government and transport regulator to trial their electric scooters in British cities - even though they are outlawed on roads and pavements.

Messages obtained under a Freedom of Information request by Business Insider show how the two US startups held calls and meetings this year with London's transport regulator, Transport for London (TfL), to try and get pilots off the ground.

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The documents show that Bird is in live discussions with regulators and the UK government about how it can operate within the law or, failing that, get the law changed.

Electric scooters are a major trend in the US right now. Neither Lime or Bird releases user numbers yet, but in April, Bird said its scooters had been used for 1 million rides and that it has around 1,000 scooters on US streets. Lime has a presence in around 65 US cities, and says it's seen 6 million rides across its electric scooters and dockless bikes.

Bird was founded by former Lyft and Uber executive Travis VanderZanden and has racked up a reported $2 billion valuation through renting out electric scooters in US cities such as San Francisco. It also expanded to Paris and Israel earlier this month.

Lime is a major rival, and operates both electric scooters and dockless bikes. It has also expanded to Paris and is worth a reported $1 billion. The company was founded by Toby Sun and Brad Bao, two former venture capitalists.

A Bird executive criticised UK laws

The correspondence obtained by Business Insider shows how Bird especially has made several attempts to launch in the UK.

The company first met with UK regulators in April, and then followed up with a meeting this month - even bringing along a Bird scooter to demo to TfL. In messages and emails, Bird executives acknowledged that electric scooters are illegal, and cajoled the regulator for government introductions.

Business Insider reviewed a LinkedIn message sent by Bird's UK and Ireland chief, Richard Corbett, to a representative at TfL. It was not known that Bird had a presence in the UK until the disclosure. Corbett previously founded Eyetease, which installed digital advertising boards on top of London black cabs.

Corbett wrote in his message: "I am aware of the current regulatory hurdles we need to overcome however I believe that with support and collaboration with TfL and other major city councils, we should be able to create a plan to address [the government's] concerns and work towards a controlled pilot."

Corbett continued by criticising the "+100 years old" legislation which means e-scooters are illegal. "What I cannot understand is why London (the powerhouse of the UK) cannot lead on this with Bird," he wrote.

Shona Ghosh/Business Insider

A LinkedIn exchange between Bird's UK head Richard Corbett, and TfL exec Michael Hurwitz.

Corbett pitched Bird as a way of reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality in London. "As a father, I believe that we should do our best today to work on initiatives that improve air quality in the city for tomorrow - simply increasing [London's traffic tax] the congestion charge zone or fees does not stop people using cars..." he wrote. "We need to give the public a viable alternative."

In a separate email to TfL representatives, Bird's European chief Patrick Studener talks about lobbying for a change in the law. He wrote: "We should see if we could potentially find a path with the Department for Transport in the existing regulations before we go down the path of asking for legislation to be changed."

Bird

Bird scooters.

Lime also approached Transport for London in early 2018, emails show.

Marketing and partnerships vice president Caen Contee held a call with TfL in May. Follow-up emails suggest that Lime is in active talks with London boroughs about introducing a dockless bike scheme.

In a statement to Business Insider, Transport for London confirmed that Lime also floated the idea of bringing electric scooters to the UK, but did not give further detail.

Bird and Lime can't bring electric scooters to the UK unless the law changes

Asked whether hired scooters might be coming to British streets this year, TfL told Business Insider that electric scooters remain illegal and that trials won't be happening until that changes.

A spokesman said: "We regularly engage with innovators in transport, and prospective new market entrants from around the world - but we are not in a position to contemplate something that is not legal.

"TfL have been approached by Bird and Lime regarding bringing e-scooters to London and we have engaged with both companies. Both are aware of the legal situation."

"It is up to the Department for Transport (DfT) to decide which vehicles are road legal and which aren't. The DfT's stance is clear: electric scooters aren't legal on the streets."

The Department of Transport did not respond to a request for comment.

In an emailed statement, Bird's European chief Patrick Studener said: "Bird can be beneficial for people of any community or city that suffers from congestion and or carbon emissions challenges.

"While we do not have any specific news to share about Birds in UK at this time, many cities throughout the UK are impacted by these challenges and we welcome the opportunity to partner on ways to tackle these challenges."

Lime did not respond to a request for comment.