Scooter-Share Company Tosses Financial Reports

Bird was counting money in customers’ digital “wallets” as revenue, and has admitted that financial statements from 2020 and 2021 “should no longer be relied upon.”

1 minute read

November 14, 2022, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Electric Scooters

Karl_Sonnenberg / Shutterstock

“Bird overstated the revenue it received from its shared electric scooters for at least two years, the company admitted in documents filed (PDF) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission Monday,” reports Andre J. Hawkins.

“The phantom revenue was discovered after an audit of financial statements from 2020 and 2021 in which Bird found it was counting as revenue customers’ preloaded ‘wallet’ balances following the completion of certain scooter trips,” according to the article.

A noted by the article, the financial miscalculations are the latest setback for the company credited with sparking the scooter boom of 2018 (after the company’s founding in April 2017). With shakeups in leadership and the end of operations in multiple European countries, there’s plenty to read about the current state of Bird at the source article below.

Monday, November 14, 2022 in The Verge

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Converted garage to housing unit in London, UK.

Grand Rapids Mayor Proposes Garage Conversion Plan

The mayor says allowing homeowners to convert garages to dwelling units could alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

30 minutes ago - Fox 17

Curb cut at corner of sidewalk with yellow panel with bumps to indicate wheelchair ramp.

Baltimore Ordered to Improve Sidewalk Accessibility

The city is one of many to face lawsuits for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio

Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab