Bolt has deployed a fleet of e-bikes in London today, marking its first entry into the UK micromobility market.
An undisclosed number of e-bikes are available to rent in Kensington and Chelsea as part of a phased rollout.
“London is one of the largest e-bike rental markets in the world, and for Bolt it’s the natural next step in our mission to create cities for people, not cars,” said Kimberly Hurd, Bolt’s Senior General Manager for the UK.
Bolt has already had more than six million users in the city use its ride-hailing service, and one in five of these trips is under 3km. The potential to nudge these users toward micromobility is what Bolt claims stands it apart from other operators. “We’re the only operator in the UK to now offer fully owned, end-to-end multi-modal transport, all in one app,” said Hurd.
The Estonian operator has also launched a new distance-based pricing model, charging riders by the distance they travel rather than the time they spend riding. This model aims to reduce the risks of per-minute pricing, where users may try to rush through their journey, take risks at busy junctions, or park improperly to minimise their costs.
“With a distance-based pricing model, which is a first for London, plus a strong focus on safety and responsible parking, we’re bringing the capital a service that keeps pavements clear whilst keeping people moving.”
Bolt now has more than 200 million customers in over 50 countries across Europe and Africa.
