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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