A Bird scooter is pictured on Newland Avenue in Jamestown. P-J photo by Kristin Rey Johnson

Bird ride-share scooters will officially be available in Jamestown starting Tuesday.

The scooters have been popping up at sites around the city over the past few days in preparation of Tuesday’s opening — and after their noisy disappearance from Dunkirk and Fredonia after elected officials in the north county city and village, respectively, ended contracts with Bird after numerous issues were raised.

TUESDAY’S LAUNCH

The scooters can be activated through Bird’s mobile phone application.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bird to Jamestown and look forward to offering community members a new, eco-friendly, and fun way to get around. Whether going to our many great attractions down, taking a stroll along the riverfront, or running errands, residents and visitors will now have a new way to get from place to place in town,” said Mayor Eddie Sundquist in a news release.

Anyone utilizing the scooters should park them out of the right away when finished. Participants are encouraged to ride safely and complimentary helmets are available at the city Department of Development offices.

Bird offers senior citizens, U.S. veterans and individuals participating in a state or federal assistance program to receive 50% off Bird rides through community pricing.

“We applaud the City of Jamestown for their commitment to offering convenient, environmentally friendly and reliable transportation options to residents and visitors,” said Austin Marshburn, Bird senior director of government partnerships.

BIRD’S RECENT HISTORY IN DUNKIRK, FREDONIA

The Fredonia Village Board voted in July to end its affiliation with Bird after numerous issues with the scooter provider. The trustees’ resolution cited a code violation that the local operator of the service got for storing the scooters on private property. It also noted that “scooters have been found in various locations after use, including but not limited to sidewalks, right of ways, residential driveways and yards.”

“I would have to disagree. I’ve heard from, in the past week, seven or eight people who walk the streets of Fredonia quite often,” Trustee Jon Espersen responded. “I had to move three of them yesterday … side by side right in the middle of the sidewalk.”

Village officials also raised issues with the age of some riders. While the scooter company requires riders to be 18 years of age, Espersen said there was no way to enforce that prohibition.

Espersen criticized usage of the scooters by riders under 18 years old. “It clearly states you have to be 18, but it doesn’t really matter what the app says or what the website says. Kids are getting access to it, which just shows me, if they don’t have control over that, what do they have control of?”

Fredonia’s decision ended up leading to Bird leaving Dunkirk as well because there wasn’t a north county manager. Vince DeJoy, Dunkirk planning and development director and former Jamestown development director, told Dunkirk Common Council members in mid-August that the scooters were likely going to be leaving the city. Several Common Council members had similar complaints as Fredonia Village Board members about the service in its second year.

“It’s wonderful news to hear about those scooters,” council member Nancy Nichols said. “I’m so tired of hearing people calling me (that) they’re in their front yard, they’re leaning up against a fire hydrant, they’re all over the city. It’s terrible … They’re being used, but they’re also being abused. The situation is out of control.”