Charging in San Diego

Welcome to San Diego’s very own educational landing page. Stay updated on the latest charging news and insights on the best charging spots in town.

New Regulations = New Rules for Releasing/Staging [Updated 8/15/19]

San Diego’s new shared mobility device regulations went into effect on July 1, 2019. These new regulations have changed where/how you can release/stage Birds. Please review the rules carefully and follow drop location/instructions exactly to ensure compliance with regulations. As a reminder, under the Services Agreement, you are required to perform you services in a professional manner, and in accordance with applicable laws, statutes, rules, permits, ordinances or regulations. Failure to comply with requirements may result in termination of the Services Agreement.

There are two sets of area-specific staging rules: One for (A) the Downtown Community Plan Area and Beach Impact Areas, and one for (B) all other areas. Staging at the following locations is strictly prohibited in all areas:

• In front of, or on the portion of a curb that has been cut down, lowered, or constructed to provide wheelchair accessibility to the sidewalk
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
• In street traffic lanes or a crosswalk

A. Downtown Community Plan Area + Beach Impact Areas

In these areas, you can only release into parking corrals painted on streets. Sidewalk staging is strictly prohibited. Use this map to see where corrals are and plan your drop route. (We will update the map when the city adds more corrals.)

• Do line up Birds neatly inside the corral, right next to each other whenver possible
• Do be respectful of other operators’ vehicles
• Don’t move other operators’ vehicles out of the corral or push them over — Not okay!
• Don’t release into a corral that is clearly at capacity/overflowing — Please find another corral
• Don’t put Birds on the street next to the corral or on the sidewalk behind the corral

While the city doesn’t restrict the number of scooters that can go in a corral, please use common sense and your best judgment. Space permitting, there can be two rows in a corral as long as the vehicles are staged neatly and don’t pose any tripping or safety hazards.

A-1. Downtown Community Plan Area

Between the harbor & the 5 Freeway / south of W. Laurel St / north of 10th Ave Marine Terminal

A-2. Beach Impact Areas: Boardwalk and Public Walkways in Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach

A-3. Beach Impact Areas: Public Walkway in La Jolla Shores

Updated 8/28/19: A section of Coast Blvd near La Jolla Cove will be closed for emergency repairs until further notice (no date at this time).

B. All other areas

The city is in the process of adding more parking corrals in different neighborhoods. If there is already a parking corral on the block, you must release into that corral following the rules outlined above — sidewalk staging is prohibited. If there isn’t a parking corral on the block, you may stage on the sidewalk as long as the Birds don’t impede pedestrian traffic and comply with the 4x40 rule:

• Maximum of 4 scooters per group at any given time
• Scooters in a single group should be within 1 foot of each other
• There should be at least 40 feet of space between each group of scooters (If there is already a group of competitor scooters, stage the Birds 40 feet away)

We will continue to update nest locations and release instructions as the city adds more corrals. If the app instructions contradict the rules laid out above, please reach out to Charger support for immediate assistance. Thank you for helping Bird be the best partner possible to the city of San Diego and its residents!

Hot Spots to Capture Birds

Below are some areas where you might be able to capture more Birds. Please do not ever go to the city impound lot or attempt to take any Birds impounded by the city, no matter where they are.

La Jolla Village

University City

Gaslamp Quarter

Other Locations To Find Birds

• Outside of/near popular bars and restaurants, especially post dinner hours Friday/Saturday
• Outside of/near concerts and sporting events: Padres home schedule here, Petco Park events calendar here
• Along the harbor downtown, especially Waterfront Park

Tips & Tricks

1. Birds become available throughout the day, so keep an eye on your Charger map!
2. College students love riding Birds, so check out areas around SDSU and UCSD* (Note: Staging on both campuses is prohibited, so pay close attention to the drop instructions)
3. You can now release 24 hours a day!
4. Map out your pick up route to save time. Start by looking at your Charger map to find the Birds closest to you and work your way outward.
5. Want to make more money? You can purchase power supplies here to charge more Birds at once, or try out move tasks to get Birds into better locations!
6. Need help Releasing Vehicles on Time?