Bolt scooters and e-bikes to replace Voi across Liverpool

Liverpool City Council has awarded Bolt, Europe’s largest micromobility platform, a contract to operate shared scooters and e-bikes from early 2026.

The new service, replacing existing provider Voi, will see 2,000 scooters and 100 e-bikes deployed across Liverpool, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will cover the entire city, with areas such as Speke and Garston set to have scooters for the first time.

This agreement marks the company’s first UK scooter launch.

Bolt is working closely with the Council to ensure the service is safe, well-integrated, and supports the city’s transport and sustainability goals. Expanding the city’s scooter and e-bike offering is part of the Council’s aim to provide active travel options, which are beneficial for both health and the environment.

Research has found that almost two thirds of all journeys in the city are made by car, which generates almost half a million tonnes of CO₂emissions each year. Scooters offer a sustainable alternative and can be accessed easily through the use of an app.

Following the introduction of its e-bikes in London in August 2025, Bolt’s expansion to Liverpool represents a major milestone in its UK growth and commitment to providing more sustainable urban transport options.

Almost half of Bolt’s e-bike and scooter trips around the world are to and from bus and train stations, showing how Liverpool’s service can reduce reliance on private cars.

The scooters and e-bikes come equipped with industry-leading safety and parking features, including:

• Maximum speed limit of 15.5 mp/h for both scooters and e-bikes
• In-app cognitive reaction test to prevent drunk riding
• AI-based photo validation and geofencing to ensure proper parking

Users must be 18 or over and, and those wanting to ride scooters must hold a valid driving licence.

Bolt’s AI-powered parking system analyses user-submitted photos at the end of each trip, providing real-time feedback and issuing fines for incorrect parking. Each user will also have a ‘rider score’ to encourage responsible vehicle riding and parking.

Bolt’s technology-led approach has already proven effective elsewhere: in Stockholm, improper parking dropped by 69%, and Bureau Veritas audits in Brussels found that Bolt users parked correctly almost 100% of the time.

All vehicles will be maintained by local Bolt teams and monitored via GPS to ensure safety, availability, and reliability. These measures are designed to keep pavements clear and ensure Bolt contributes positively to Liverpool’s streets.

Private scooters remain illegal on public roads, while using the vehicles on pavements or with two riders are also against the law.

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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