Press Release, 26 January 2022:
Course to be rolled out across 570 schools in Ireland (80% of all schools)
Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, and the Irish School of Excellence (ISOE) today announced the launch of Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. The first-of-its-kind programme in Ireland is designed to educate transition year, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Youthreach and after school students on safe and responsible riding practises for the use of shared e-scooters.
The ISOE is Ireland’s largest driver education programme, working with over 570 secondary schools nationwide. Covering almost 80% of schools nationally, the ISOE and Bird will roll out Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course as soon as legislation governing their use is passed. The as the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 makes it way through the Oireachtas to allow for e-scooters on Irish roads, and ahead of Councils throughout Ireland beginning licensing processes this year.
Once e-scooters are legalised in Ireland, Bird’s ‘E-scooter Safety Course,’ module will serve as part of the Irish School of Excellence’s existing ‘Driver Education Course’. The course is used to encourage young people to adopt a safety-led approach to driving, and is available to Leaving Cert pupils preparing to take driving lessons, as cars and micro mobility devices increasingly share the road. The pioneering ‘E-scooter Safety Module’ will provide pupils with an overview of the law governing e-scooters; a guide on how to ensure pedestrian safety while using e-scooters; tuition on starting and moving off safely, as well as a tutorial on how to park safely.
Kieran O’Brien, CEO and founder of Irish School of Excellence said: “As our transport network evolves to embrace more sustainable travel options such as shared e-scooter schemes, so too should driving education. It has been heartening to witness first hand Bird’s proactivity in this space. Together we have devised a course that will equip young people across Ireland with the education necessary to use e-scooters safely on Irish roads.”
Charlotte Bailey, General Manager for UK and Ireland at Bird said: “Safety is of paramount importance to Bird. As Ireland prepares to embrace shared e-scooter schemes, it is essential that the public is educated on how to use e-scooters safely. Bird is proud to work with Irish School of Excellence, an organisation with enormous reach, to spearhead Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. At Bird, we enforce an age limit of 18 years across our platform but believe it is important to begin instilling e-scooter safety early to ensure the next generation ride responsibly.”
About Bird:
Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is rapidly expanding. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in over 350 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase at www.bird.co and via leading retailers and distribution partners. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates to provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for people who live and work there.
About Irish School of Excellence:
Kieran O’Brien founded the Irish School of Excellence in 2000 as a venture to reduce the number of road deaths of young drivers killed on our roads each year. Kieran has devised a course that promotes a common-sense and safety led approach to driving for transition year LCA, Youthreach and afterschool students at school between the ages of 15 – 18, which is taught during school hours. It is the largest driver education programme in over 570 secondary schools and has access to over 30,000 students and 100 ADI driver instructors. More information regarding the Irish School of Excellence can be found at their website: www.irishsoe.com