Uber can acquire Bird or Lime to accelerate his scooter plans

Although there is no guarantee of an agreement, Uber can now reach an agreement to buy one of the companies before 2018 is over. The companies do not necessarily provide much clarity. Lime and Uber refused to comment. Bird chief Travis VanderZanden said the bird was "not for sale", but a spokeswoman who acted on his behalf did not say if the company had talked with Uber.

There is absolute pressure for Uber to make a move. Lifts scooter business is still relatively small, but it has also completed the acquisition of Citi Bike operator Motivate, and now has the largest bicycle sharing network in the United States. If Uber is going to throw itself as a transport service that goes beyond cars, it will want to expand its non-car sales quickly. A purchase of Bird or Lime could immediately provide broader coverage, not to mention an opportunity to accelerate growth.