The City of Grand Rapids is partnering with shared electric scooter company, Bird Rides, to bring e-scooters to the city in the coming week. Just in time for spring, Bird is a naturally social distanced way to get around. The scooters are available through a mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute, at no cost to the city. Â
âWe are happy to welcome Bird to the City of Grand Rapids,â commented Mayor Dale Christy who was happy to announce the scooters would arrive within the month. âI think they will make a great addition to our community.â
The Grand Rapids City Council held a regular meeting at Grand Rapids City Hall on Monday.Â
During the meeting, Mayor Dale Christy proclaimed that the City of Grand Rapids will celebrate âPurple-Up for Military Kidsâ on Thursday, April 15. Purple Up is a day for communities to wear purple in a show of support for military children. The month of April is officially known as the month of the military child.Â
Members of the community are invited to the Grand Rapids Armory to take a photo commemorating the event at 4 p.m. Community members in attendance are asked to wear purple to thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. The Armory is located at 930 NE First Avenue in Grand Rapids.Â
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The Grand Rapids area could be the first community outside of a metro area in the United States to pilot an autonomous shuttle service program.Â
The Grand Rapids Shuttle Project partners the city with May Mobility, a company that has been providing cities throughout the country with self-driving vehicles. During a work session Monday, Jan. 25, the Grand Rapids City Council heard an update on the project.
As Grand Rapids City Administrator Tom Pagel explained, this project is about more than bringing autonomous vehicles to town but itâs also about workforce development and tourism as well as creating more accessible mobility for those with transportation challenges.Â
The city of Grand Rapids officially recognized a new mayor on Monday, Jan. 11. Dale Christy, who previously served as councilor, was elected the cityâs mayor in November. He is taking the office after Dale âSpudâ Adams decided to step down and run for a city councilor position instead. The people elected both Adams and incumbent Councilor Tasha Connelly to the council. The three were sworn into their offices on Monday during the councilâs annual organizational meeting.Â
During the Jan. 11 meeting, the council adopted council bylaws which set council meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 5 p.m. at City Hall. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council. However, in the absence of the mayor, the mayor pro-tem shall preside. On Monday, the council appointed Councilor Michelle Toven as mayor pro-tem.Â