This commitment is also based on Bolt's operational experience, accumulated in 260 cities across Europe.
The Bolt Commitment is comprised of nine major themes essential to safe e-scooter travel. Each of these themes addresses the most important issues of the industry, identified following a study carried out by the consulting company Steer. These include partnership with local authorities, user education, safe and well-functioning scooters, prevention of travel under the influence of alcohol and illegal substances, protection of public space, protection of vulnerable categories of people, transparent collection of safety data, protection of personnel operator and the constant improvement of the safety level.
“Bolt is constantly working to improve safety, educate e-scooter users and collaborate with local authorities in all cities where it operates. The entire fleet of scooters is insured in the event of an incident, and in addition to the information we make available in the app and the protection measures we constantly implement, we frequently organize information events in partnership with local authorities. In 2021 we managed to reduce the number of injury incidents by 26% and the number of electric scooter accidents by 12%, while increasing the number of rides by five times compared to 2020. We continue to raise the standard of safety of our services even more with the hope that we will inspire the entire industry", says Călin Leuștean, Micromobility Manager Bolt Romania.
Among the measures that Bolt is committed to implementing to improve the safety of e-scooter travel are:
Collaboration with local authorities to create safe conditions. Bolt is committed to cooperating with local authorities and providing essential information needed to create a micromobility infrastructure.
Reduction of cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances. Bolt is committed to expanding the cognitive response test, which prevents cases of this kind, and to run awareness campaigns about the risks of such behavior.
Educating users effectively. Bolt is committed to expanding Beginner Mode, the in-app option that limits travel speed to 15 km/h, and is focusing on properly informing the user base.
Protection of public space and categories of vulnerable people. Bolt is testing a parking system based on artificial intelligence and ambient sound emitted by scooters, to warn pedestrians of the presence of the vehicle.
"Micromobility services have a great potential in reducing the number of urban trips made by car. To realize this potential, it is vital that we focus on the safety of these services. This approach can maximize both users' confidence in e-scooters as a new mode of travel and that of authorities in creating long-term partnerships with operators," says Matthew Clark, Head of New Mobility at Steer.
Bolt is committed to tackling the problems of improper parking, as well as exceeding regulatory demands for vehicle safety at European level, by launching technologically advanced scooter models. Last but not least, the company ensures that all staff follow the highest safety standards in the operation of electric scooter storage warehouses.
Bolt has over 100 million users in 45 countries and over 500 cities in Europe and Africa. The company is present in Romania with on-demand transport services, electric scooter rental, food delivery (Bolt Food), delivery of food and non-food products (Bolt Market) and with the software development division, which serves all subsidiaries in Europe of the company. Bolt is the market leader in Romania, the company operating in over 25 cities.
