Many of you have probably whizzed around London on the Brat-green sporting Lime number; a dark green, freewheelin’ Forest Bike; or the Regal red of a set of Santander wheels. But soon, there will be a new E-Bike player in town, with Bolt – who you’ll know as a Taxi service a la Uber – Bikes becoming an option for Londoners getting from A to B.
Those who already use Bolt for their car service will simply be able to use the same app to jump on a Bolt Bike when they launch their wheels in the capital this August.
Bolt have said the company will use AI technology to ensure users have parked their bikes in the designated areas to avoid danger for pedestrians, and fine those who do not park their bikes correctly. This will also reportedly include a score that goes up and down depending on how well users park bikes according to the rules.
A spokesperson said: “Bolt’s AI powered parking system and geofencing will ensure users cannot park outside mandatory parking zones. The Bolt app will also direct users to the nearest available parking spot, and if they have not parked appropriately, they will be provided with relevant instructions. These measures aim to keep pavements clear and ensure Bolt contributes positively to the urban landscape, and doesn’t add to the problem.”
Interestingly, the way it charges users will be slightly different to how we’re used to on Limes, with the new bikes calculating totals using distance as opposed to time. In their testing, they found that this led to cyclists riding around 9% slower, which could mean fewer collisions and potential for injuries on the E-Bikes.
According to Bolt, there are already around 50,000 E-Bikes in the capital, and the company told The Metro that their number to add will be in the thousands (though an exact figure has not yet been confirmed).
Speaking on the news, Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “I’m pleased Bolt will be launching e-bikes in our city this summer, providing Londoners with even more sustainable and convenient ways to get around. Integrating e-bikes with ride hailing in a single app will give people more choice and flexibility when choosing how to get around, strengthening our network and helping to reduce congestion.”