New Bolt Scooters get set to launch in Liverpool “encouraging slower, safer journeys”

Bolt set to replace Voi across Liverpool from February 1st 2026, bringing 2,000 electric scooters and 150 e-bikes to the city.

The service will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week covering the whole of Liverpool. Neighbourhoods including Speke and Garston will gain access to shared scooters for the first time.

Expanding the scooter and e-bike offer across Liverpool is part of the Council’s aim to provide active travel options, which are beneficial for both health and the environment. Almost two thirds of all journeys in the city are made by car, which generates almost half a million tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. Scooters offer a sustainable alternative that reduces the amount of congestion during busy travel times.

Bolt will introduce a distance-based pricing option for riders, allowing users to pay per mile rather than per minute. The model is designed to promote safer, slower riding by removing incentives to rush journeys, take risks at busy junctions, or park improperly to minimise costs.

To encourage safe, considerate use, the e-scooters come equipped with industry-leading safety and parking features, including a maximum speed limit, AI-powered photo validation to ensure proper parking, and a test to prevent drunk riding.

In the coming weeks, Bolt will also begin rolling out a new generation of shared e-bikes across Liverpool in phases. The city has been selected as the first location in the UK to receive Bolt’s solar-assisted shared e-bikes, each fitted with an integrated solar panel to extend battery life.

The solar panels are expected to save up to 3.7 kWh of energy per bike per year, equivalent to avoiding more than six battery swaps annually, helping to improve vehicle availability, reduce operational downtime and lower environmental impact. The e-bikes will also have regenerative braking technology, converting braking energy into electricity to further power the bike.

New research commissioned by Bolt in the UK shows that four in ten e-bike users ride to train stations or other transport hubs, while more than a third use e-bikes for commuting to work, highlighting the role shared micromobility can play in connecting people to public transport and reducing car dependency.

The Liverpool launch follows Bolt’s e-bike rollout in London in 2025 and underlines the company’s continued investment in sustainable urban transport across the UK.

Councillor Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity said:

“We know that e-scooters are incredibly well used across Liverpool, and they provide a quick, sustainable way to travel throughout the city. We’re looking forward to welcoming Bolt into the area.

“I’m pleased to see the number of measures in place to promote safe, responsible use of their e-scooters and e-bikes. The new service will operate at all hours of the day and cover more areas than ever before, giving additional support for people working late at night when there is no public transport.”

Councillor Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Transport Committee at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:

“Building on more than five years of our successful e-scooter scheme, this new partnership with Bolt marks the next chapter in our commitment to delivering a truly integrated transport network that’s greener and easier to use.

“In expanding services, we’re ensuring that micro-mobility is no longer just confined to the city centre, but a practical, daily tool for residents in neighbourhoods across Liverpool.

“Working with Bolt and Liverpool City Council we’re taking a further step to embed e-scooters and e-bikes into the region’s travel offer, providing a genuine alternative to the car that supports our climate goals while keeping people moving safely and efficiently.”

Georgia Heathman, Bolt’s UK Policy Lead, said:

“Liverpool is a city with huge potential for shared, sustainable transport. By expanding scooters and e-bikes across the entire city, introducing distance-based pricing, and rolling out our most advanced e-bikes to date, we’re making it much easier for people to get around while also reducing car traffic.”

Get more information about Bolt here.

It was recently announced that the Tour de France will be coming to Liverpool next year.

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