Bolt to take over Liverpool’s shared scooters and e-bikes in major 2026 transport shift

Local TV

Liverpool City Council has chosen Bolt to operate a 24/7 shared scooter and e-bike service from early 2026, replacing Voi and rolling out across the whole city. The agreement marks Bolt’s first UK scooter launch and is part of the Council’s plan to expand active travel and reduce car use.

Transcript

00:00For people travelling around Liverpool, getting from one part of the city to another could soon feel very different.

00:06From early 2026, 2,000 shared scooters and 100 shared e-bikes will be available across Liverpool, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

00:15Liverpool City Council's awarded the contract to Bolt, which is currently Europe's largest micro-mobility platform.

00:21This marks their first ever scooter launch in the UK.

00:25We've been on the streets of Liverpool to find out how you feel about e-scooters.

00:29It's just the health and safety issue, isn't it, really?

00:33It's how do you ride them and how, you know, keep people safe. That's what it's about, isn't it?

00:38I hate them. I hate them. I'm terrified of them.

00:41You know, especially when they're on the side, coming out of speed.

00:44And, I mean, they've got no consideration for older people anyway.

00:48Do you know what I mean? It's dangerous, I think.

00:50They should never have been invented.

00:52I'm very unsympathetic. I think they're driven very dangerously.

00:55I think they should be limited by law. I think they should be licensed.

00:59They should be kept off pavements.

01:02Bolt and the council say they're working closely together to ensure the rollout is safe,

01:06well integrated and aligned with the city's transport and sustainability goals.

01:11The council describes scooters and e-bikes as a way to support active travel,

01:15benefiting both health and the environment.

01:18Research cited in the council's plans show that almost two-thirds of journeys in Liverpool

01:23are made by car, producing almost half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

01:28The council says offering a sustainable option that can be easily accessed through an app

01:32will help reduce reliance on private vehicles.

01:36Bolt says it expects the system to complement buses and trains rather than replace them.

01:40The company reports almost half of all global scooter and e-bike trips it operates,

01:45begin or end at public transport stations.

01:47John Buckley, the head of micro-mobility for the UK,

01:51said launching in Liverpool is a key step in the company's commitment to building a better urban transport.

01:56Well, how can you prove if they've got a driving licence?

01:59They're driving around on them.

02:00You can't, can you?

02:01I think vast amounts of money has been wasted already,

02:03and the cycle lanes not used by cyclists will continue to use the pavement.

02:07I think the same will happen, and with powered bikes,

02:10they'll be even more dangerous and even more wasteful.

02:13Safety and responsible use are part of the design.

02:16Bolt says vehicles will have a maximum speed of 15.5 miles an hour

02:20in-app cognitive reaction tests to prevent drunk driving

02:23and AI-based parking validation.

02:25They say each user will receive a rider score based on behaviour

02:29with real-time feedback and fines for incorrect parking

02:31to encourage responsible use across the city.

02:34The company's data shows improper parking in Stockholm

02:37dropped by 69% after similar measures were introduced,

02:41and Bureau Veritas Audits in Brussels found almost 100% compliance.

02:46All vehicles will be maintained by local teams

02:49and monitored through GPS to ensure reliability and availability.

02:53Private scooters do remain illegal on public roads,

02:55and using scooters on pavements or with two riders is against the law.

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