Liverpool City Council has appointed Bolt, Europe’s largest micromobility operator, to run the city’s shared scooter and e-bike scheme from early 2026.

The new contract will replace the current Voi service and will introduce 2,000 scooters and 100 e-bikes across Liverpool, operating 24/7. For the first time, areas including Speke and Garston will be included in the network, significantly widening access to shared active travel.

The move marks Bolt’s first UK scooter launch, following the rollout of its e-bikes in London in 2025, and represents a major step in the company’s nationwide expansion.

Liverpool City Council is working closely with Bolt to ensure the system is safe, reliable and well-integrated with the city’s wider transport network. The expansion supports the Council’s ambition to boost active travel, reduce car dependency and cut carbon emissions.

Currently, almost two thirds of journeys in Liverpool are made by car, producing around half a million tonnes of CO₂ every year. Shared scooters and e-bikes offer a greener alternative and can be easily accessed via Bolt’s mobile app.

Globally, almost half of Bolt’s micromobility trips begin or end at public transport hubs, demonstrating how Liverpool’s new service could help reduce reliance on private vehicles and support more sustainable door-to-door journeys.

The new fleet will feature a range of safety and parking technologies, including:

• 15.5 mp/h maximum speed limit for both scooters and e-bikes
• In-app cognitive reaction test to prevent riding under the influence
• AI-powered photo validation and geofencing to ensure correct parking

Riders must be 18 or over, and scooter users will need a valid driving licence.

Bolt’s AI-based parking system analyses photos submitted at the end of each trip and can provide instant feedback or issue fines when vehicles are incorrectly parked. Each rider also receives a “rider score” to promote safe and considerate behaviour.

This technology has delivered strong results in other cities: improper parking fell by 69% in Stockholm, while independent audits in Brussels found Bolt users parked correctly almost 100% of the time.

All scooters and e-bikes will be managed and maintained by Bolt’s local teams, with GPS monitoring ensuring vehicles remain safe, accessible and well-distributed across the city.

The Council is also reminding residents that private e-scooters remain illegal on public roads, and that pavement riding or carrying passengers are also offences.

Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity said: 

“Scooters and e-bikes are a fantastic way to travel around the city. They’re safe, they encourage active travel, and they offer a sustainable option that could reduce the amount of traffic on our streets.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Bolt and we’re very pleased that more people in Liverpool than ever before will have easy access to this option. It’s really encouraging that our work with Bolt puts measures in place that encourage responsible use and discourage incorrect parking.

“The service will also operate 24/7 which will assist shift workers and those in the night-time economy who need to travel when there is no public transport. ”

John Buckley, Bolt’s Head of Micromobility for the UK, said: 

“With over 230,000 scooters and e-bikes operating in more than 270 cities across Europe, we’ve seen how micromobility can encourage environmentally friendlier travel, reduce car traffic, and connect people to public transport. Launching micromobility in Liverpool, and our first ever scooter service in the UK, is a key step in Bolt’s commitment to building better urban transport.”

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