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CCPC calls on Government to open up Irish taxi market

New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) highlights a supply shortage in the taxi sector as four in 10 people who tried to get a taxi in December reported difficulties doing so.

With a significant share of taxi users wanting the choice of ride-hailing (49%), the CCPC is calling for the removal of regulatory barriers to facilitate entry of these services. Ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber or Bolt, connect private drivers to passengers via apps. This would mean allowing these private drivers to provide services using their own cars, subject to appropriate regulatory safeguards.

According to the research, 57% of those who expressed an opinion believe that there are not enough taxis available in their area. However, there are stark differences across geographical locations.

While 56% of those living in Dublin believed there are enough taxis in their area, only 28% of those outside of Dublin agree. This drops to 21% for those living in Connacht or Ulster.

Participants were asked whether they would like the choice of accessing ride-hailing services, subject to regulatory requirements.

While 49% of taxi users surveyed would like the option of ride-hailing services, this figure rose to 57% for those who believe there are not enough taxis in their area.

When asked whether they would prefer a fixed fare or a metered fare, 60% said they would support a fixed fare option.

The research also found that 53% of respondents surveyed tried to get a taxi in December 2025. Two in five who tried to get a taxi in December experienced problems, with 27% saying they had to stop looking as no taxis were available.

The research comes ahead of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) regulatory assessment of the licensing of dispatch operators, which is due to begin later this year.

Brian McHugh, CCPC chair said:

“Regulatory barriers in the taxi market have failed to facilitate innovations that have flourished in other countries and consumers are suffering as a result. Our research shows a clear preference for more choice among consumers who are not getting the service they need.

“This is not about abandoning oversight or regulation. Any new entrants could and should be regulated to maintain high service and safety standards. Consumers and businesses deserve an innovative, functioning taxi sector that provides choice. Consumers shouldn’t be faced with long waits or the possibility of staying home due to a lack of taxi availability.

“The CCPC is calling on the Government to remove key regulatory barriers in the taxi market so that it can be more responsive to consumer needs and align better with how transport systems are evolving all over the world. The goal is to achieve a balance that protects consumers and ensures access, while also allowing competition and innovation to improve the market. We look forward to engaging with the NTA in their consultation process and to exploring all solutions that might increase capacity and choice.

IFA Exclusive mobility partnerships for 2025 #IFA2025

IFA Berlin, the world’s largest event for home and consumer tech, announces its official mobility partners for 2025: Bolt, Lime, Voi, Free2move and BVG Club. Visitors and exhibitors at IFA will benefit from exclusive discounts and flexible offers for a smooth and sustainable stay.

Mobility as part of the IFA experience

From 3 to 9 September 2025, Berlin will become a global stage for technology and culture – and mobility is a central part of the experience. By collaborating with leading providers, IFA enables its visitors to explore the city without detours and with a reduced carbon footprint.

From Bolt’s ride-hailing service to e-scooters and e-bikes from Lime and Voi to car-sharing solutions from Free2move and exclusive BVG Club tickets: the offers from IFA’s mobility partners are as individual as the IFA visitors themselves – and take them directly to their destination.

‘Mobility is a key topic of our time, that’s why we are very pleased about the partnership with leading mobility providers. Together, we are focusing on smart, sustainable solutions that take our guests flexibly through Berlin and ensure an all-round successful trade fair experience,’ says Leif Lindner, Managing Director of IFA Management GmbH.

Partner offers overview

Bolt

30% discount on ride hailing. Valid for the first 6,500 users who book a ride to or from Messe Berlin (code: BOLTIFA25, up to 30€ per ride)
50% discount on the first three rides with an e-scooter or e-bike. Valid for the first 1,000 users who book a ride in Berlin (code: IFA2025MOVE, up to 2€ per ride)
30% discount on the first car-sharing ride. (Valid for the first 1,000 users who book a ride in Berlin, code: IFA2025DRIVE)

Lime

20% discount on your first ride. Valid from 5 to 9 September 2025 for the first 5,000 users (code IFA2025)
Free2move
10€ starting credit for new users. Credit valid for 30 days when redeeming the code by 10 September (code PSM-IFA-2025)

Voi

50% discount on three rides for new customers. Valid from 5 to 9 September 2025 (code IFAVOI2025)

BVG Club

20% discount for BVG Club members on tickets for the IFA Summer Garden Opening Night Festival (4 September), including free IFA admission on a day of your choice.

With these partnerships, IFA 2025 ensures that visitors and exhibitors can travel comfortably, affordably and sustainably – while experiencing the IFA in all its facets.

Further information on IFA Berlin 2025: www.ifa-berlin.com

Driving less than 15,000 km a year? New report says you could save money by ditching your private car

Car owners who are driving less than 15,000 km a year could be losing out on substantial cost savings, according to a new report from Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting and Bolt, Europe’s largest shared mobility company.

The report has found that while there has been a reduction of 1,700 km per year in the distance travelled by personal cars across Europe over the last decade, the number of vehicles registered per household has stayed the same, suggesting that cars are often sitting idle at home. In Ireland, the number of privately-owned vehicles on the roads rose by 215% between 1985 and 2020. Previous research from Bolt revealed that over one quarter (25.67%) of Irish drivers are likely to give up their car in the next five years if viable alternatives are made available, whilst over half (54.55%) cited the overall expense of running a car as a potential reason for giving up their car.

For those car owners driving less than 15,000 km a year, new data shows other modes of transport like ride-hailing, car subscriptions, scooter and e-bike rentals and car-sharing can be more affordable than owning a car.

The report looked at the total cost of ownership (TCO) in price per km for premium, SUV and compact cars, which decrease incrementally the more a car is driven, and compared them to the price per km of different types of shared mobility services, which carry no additional costs to the user, past the initial price.

In Ireland, though petrol and diesel prices dipped by two cents and one cent in October, the price of crude oil remains elevated at approximately $90 per barrel, an increase on the $70 barrels were valued at during the summer.

Car-sharing emerged particularly favourably as a cost effective transport mode, being cheaper than all three car types at an annual mileage of up to 15,000 km. Shared scooters and e-bike services were cheaper than a compact car at an annual mileage of 5,000 km, while even the most expensive shared mobility service, ride-hailing, proved cheaper than a premium car for an annual mileage up to 12,000 km. The analysis was conducted in Germany but applicable to all major European markets.

For those who cannot afford a car, the study also points out how shared mobility is a viable alternative, removing the key financial barrier of purchasing a car, scooter or eBike and connecting into public transport systems to provide better commuting access.

Fortunately for Irish citizens, the government is taking warmly received steps to ensure the country is well-positioned to transition away from a reliance on the private car. The recent Budget included an investment of €360m in cycling and walking infrastructure, as well as confirmation that the 20% fare reduction for all public transport (implemented last year as a temporary cost of living measure) will continue.

Notably, the government has also been taking great strides to enable an alternative transport mode which can ensure the cycling infrastructure is well used: the shared electric scooter. Legislation is expected to be finalised in the next couple of months. Given one third (33.4%) of private car journeys in Dublin are less than two kilometres according to the CSO, and over one fifth (20.9%) are 2 to 4 kilometres in length, the company with Irish headquarters in Dublin expect the two-wheelers to be a hit in towns and cities of varying sizes across the country.

Indeed, Bolt already offers shared electric bikes in Sligo, Kilkenny, Wexford, Bray, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and Carlow. The firm is the largest scooter provider in Europe with scooters and e-bikes in more than 250 cities across 25 countries.

Head of Public Policy for Bolt Ireland, Aisling Dunne, said: “This report comes at a time that has real potential to be a watershed moment for the environment and transport in Ireland. It exposes the poor value for money private cars represent for urban dwellers across the country, just when cities and citizens are understandably assessing how far their euro is going.

“Thankfully a viable alternative is well on its way in the form of the shared electric scooter. We strongly encourage the NTA to continue this positive momentum by evaluating if the supply of taxis – especially in hospitality hotspots like Dublin – is proportionate to the amount of demand from passengers. Many of us will have first-hand experience of struggling to get a taxi.”

Dr Andreas Nienhaus, Head of the Oliver Wyman Mobility Forum, who led the study, said: “The mobility sector has changed dramatically in recent years and in addition to cars there is now a range of different modes of transport available to people. Cars will still be a necessity for some depending on where they live or their job, but what this report shows is that switching away from private car ownership can have significant benefits for many, particularly those living in cities.”

In addition to saving people money, the new report also found that greater usage of services like scooters and e-bikes can have environmental benefits for cities and the people living in them.

An analysis of how people used Bolt scooters in Europe found that around 10% of e-scooter rides directly replaced car journeys. As a result, e-scooters on their own contributed a reduction of up to 120 million car kilometres travelled, helping to alleviate traffic congestion and air pollution in cities and to reduce car-related emissions by an estimated 23,000 tons CO2e across Europe. The study also highlights the potential for aligned multimodal approaches between operators and Cities to cut personal car usage by 20% in Cities like Berlin.

Shared electric bike company Bolt partners with Sligo council, Atlantic Technological University, An Garda Síochána & NCBI to discuss safe and responsible cycling with ATU students

European shared mobility leader Bolt has joined forces with Sligo County Council, Sligo Gardaí, ATU Sligo and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland to develop and put on a training school at the university where students can learn and practise how to use shared electric bikes safely and responsibly.

The Bolt Safety Academy will be open 12-2pm on Wednesday 4th October at “The Fish” on the ATU Sligo campus and will be the first of its kind in the country.

Attendees can test their knowledge with a localised online test about how to use and park a shared electric bike safely and responsibly across Sligo. In a move that demonstrates fruitful cross-industry collaboration, the content of the test was jointly developed with the NCBI, ATU Sligo, ATU Students’ Union and Sligo County Council. Attendees will then be able to put their knowledge into practice by cycling around campus with guidance from Sligo’s Community Garda team.

The Safety Academy is expected to be busy as it’s part of the Universities’ “Connect for Success”: Your First Five Weeks” orientation programme which is dedicating a week to highlighting the various health and wellbeing resources available to students on campus. To further encourage attendance and learning, Bolt is rewarding those who complete the test with 20 minutes of free Bolt cycling which can be used at a later date, whilst those who partake in the test ride will be given a free helmet. In order to encourage usage, attendees can personalise their helmet on-site.

The Estonian-based company is also taking the opportunity to debut a brand new safety feature called the reckless rider score. Bolt’s software will calculate if a bike is being ridden recklessly according to sensors which can recognise multiple behaviours such as skidding or abrupt braking. A user’s reckless rider score is evaluated every five rides. If it falls below a certain threshold, they will receive education, a mandatory lower speed and a suspension according to how long the score remains.

The objective of the Safety Academy is two-fold. It’s intended to teach students and locals how to use a shared electric bike service responsibly – Bolt’s service has received a warm reception since arriving in June 2022. The academy is also intended to educate how to engage safely with light electric vehicles more generally, with the legalisation of shared electric scooters expected by the end of the year. Bolt is the largest scooter provider in Europe with over 260,000 scooters and e-bikes in operation.

The credentials and presence of the Tallinn-headquartered firm continues to grow in Ireland. Though Sligo was the first town to embrace the shared electric bikes, there have been launches in Kilkenny, Wexford, Bray, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, and Carlow just a couple of weeks ago. Bolt intends to roll out the Safety Academy everywhere it has operations in due course.

In addition to the reckless rider score, it has a strong suite of technology that encourages safe, responsible usage. For those with no or little experience of bicycles with pedal assisted motors, Beginner Mode limits the top speed to 15 km/h, down from the normal 25 km/h. Though the service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company employs an in-app cognitive reaction test 11pm-5am. This means prospective riders have to prove they are in a fit state to ride a bicycle through their reaction time and, if they’re unable to do so, are encouraged to take a taxi instead (including Bolt’s very own on-demand service in Bray and DLR).

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Gerard Mullaney said: “Sligo County Council have been impressed with the usage of the Bolt e-bike scheme. Since launch in June 2022, Sligo has had almost 7,000 unique users, with almost 200,000 kilometres travelled on the bikes. This usage is contributing to modal shift away from the private car, which is very positive in our endeavours to reduce emissions from transport. Sligo County Council welcomes the launch of the Safety Academy in conjunction with Bolt and ATU. This is a significant opportunity to promote safety and awareness, and encourage correct usage of the e-bike system.”

Sligo Councillor Marie Casserly said: “The Bolt e-bikes have been a great addition to the whole town, but especially for providing students and staff at ATU with better access to hassle-free transport. We want to make sure the bikes are being used in a safe and responsible manner so I’m delighted to be working with Bolt, ATU, NCBI, the Students’ Union and the Council to educate students and help keep them safe.”

Head of Public Policy for Bolt Ireland, Aisling Dunne, said: “It’s been fantastic to see our shared electric bike service be so embraced in Sligo. With darker, wetter winter months approaching, and the regulation of shared electric scooters expected this year, it’s especially crucial to continue to remind riders how they can keep themselves and pedestrians safe. We’ve been delighted to collaborate on this important work with such respected partners.”

Healthy Campus Coordinator ATU Sligo, Yvonne Kennedy said: “ATU Sligo, through our Healthy Campus initiatives, aspires to create a learning environment and organisation culture that enhances the health, wellbeing and sustainability of its community, and enables our campus population to achieve their full potential.

“Our partnership and support of the Bolt e-bike scheme, along with Sligo County Council, has been a very positive one for us. We have embraced the Bolt e-bike service with open arms – we have several Bolt bike stations located all around our campuses, making them a convenient and alternative mode of transport. There are obvious health benefits (both physical and mental) to using an e-bike – as a mode of transport to get to and from the college campus – but it is also much more sustainable, which aligns with our Green Campus goals.

“The ATU Sligo campus population is one of the biggest users of the Bolt e-bikes and we want to ensure that they do so in a safe and responsible way. Healthy Campus, along with ATU Sligo Students Union, were delighted to work with them in the development of the Bolt Safety Academy, and are honoured to have them here at ATU Sligo for the launch. It is crucial that our campus population use the Bolt e-bikes in a safe, responsible, and respectful manner and I would encourage all our on-campus users to take part.”

Bolt and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council bring shared electric bike service to region ahead of Car-Free Day on September 22nd

European shared mobility leader Bolt, in partnership with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, has officially launched its shared electric bike service across parts of the area today. The occasion was marked by an event attended by Bolt and the council at White Rock beach. The service arrives just in time for European Mobility Week which starts on September 16 and aptly ends with Car-Free Day on September 22.

Though the council area already benefits from an abundance of different transport modes that crucially aren’t the private car, the service from Bolt offers residents and visitors something brand new in a multitude of ways.

To start, it has an affordable €0.18 per minute charge and no unlock fee. Market research often says that the price point of a transport mode determines its utilisation. Since Bolt and DLR CoCo have the common goal of shifting private car use to public and shared transport, especially ahead of Car-Free Day, this is crucial.

Another quality important to consumers, and a differentiator of Bolt’s service, is ease of use. Notably, Bolt’s bicycles have pedal assisted motors. This means they can be used in different ways to push bicycles. For example, riders of Bolt’s e-bikes can scale DLR’s notorious hills or put kilometres behind them (aided by the region’s fantastic cycling infrastructure) without breaking a sweat. This means they can be a genuine alternative to the private car, and connect coastal towns (such as Dalkey, Killiney, Shankill) and Cherrywood with Bray. Additionally, the service provides an important link with Dart and bus services which helps people commute in a sustainable way. The value this can bring can be seen in the almost 3250 people that have cycled more than 38,000 kilometres since the service launched in nearby Bray in late June.

It is not, however, only users of the service that are getting something new. Bolt is a firm believer that transport needs to work for everyone, including pedestrians. Consequently, the firm has a suite of features and smart technologies which ensure the service is used responsibly.

For those with no or little experience of bicycles with pedal assisted motors, there is ‘Beginner Mode’. This limits the top speed of the bicycle to 15 km/h. Once ‘Beginner Mode’ is turned off, the bicycles have a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

The GPS technology packed into the bikes brings a wealth of benefits. For example, in collaboration with the council, Bolt has implemented go-slow zones (where speed is limited to 15 km/h), as well as no-go zones (where the bikes aren’t allowed to be ridden whatsoever).

GPS also brings benefits even when the bikes aren’t being used. Bikes will be stationed in designated mandatory parking locations on public realm and private property (as agreed with the landowners). This means riders will be shown where they can park their bike through the app and physical signage. Not only does this mean the bikes won’t take up space reserved for private bicycles at popular bike racks, Bolt can also see if a parking location is at risk of being overwhelmed and take action. This could be in the form of the local operations team shifting an appropriate amount of bikes to another location, temporarily disallowing bikes being parked in a specific location or discounting trips from a location to ensure the bikes get moved.

The roll-out of the bikes in these areas is a pilot programme and is subject to amendment, pending feedback from all corners of the community. Feedback of all kinds is welcome and can be shared in-app or by emailing Ireland@bolt.eu.

Though the service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company will be employing an in-app cognitive reaction test 11pm-5am. This means prospective riders have to prove they are in a fit state to ride a bicycle through their reaction time.

Another way in which the Estonian company offers a unique proposition is the taxi service that can be ordered within the very same app. This means a wide variety of mobility needs can be met within the Bolt app alone. For example, citizens can ride a bicycle to a public transport hub or destination in DLR at the start of the night, and then get home safely by taxi after public transport services have stopped for the night.

Bolt will further support users taking the right mode of transport at the right time and discourage the usage of its bike service whilst under the influence of alcohol by offering a discount for its taxi service to those who fail its cognitive reaction test*. The company will offer this discount during launch week whilst everyone gets familiar with the new service.

Bolt Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown resident, John Buckley, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that our electric bikes will be available to residents and visitors to the southern parts of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. We offer something completely different – an electric bike service that can get you up that hill, and a taxi service that can get you home safe at night, all in one app. And what fantastic timing, just on the eve of European Mobility Week which encourages everyone who can give up their private car to do so, a cause which is central to our company mission. Providing people with more convenient options make that prospect more likely for many.”

Bolt and Snapchat reimagine cities without parked cars in new AR collaboration

Global mobility company Bolt has partnered with Snapchat to create a new Lens that gives every person the power to reimagine their city by visualising urban spaces with fewer parked cars in real time using augmented reality (AR).

The new Lens, which is called P.E.O.P.L.E. (Parked Environment Optimisation for Public Land Enhancement), recognises parked cars and turns them into environments built for people, such as outdoor cafés, cycling lanes and green spaces, and is available to millions of Snapchatters worldwide. It’s the world’s first augmented reality lens that detects cars and replaces them with people-friendly places with a single tap.

The Lens forms part of Bolt’s newest pan-European brand campaign “Feels Like Home”, which encourages people to aspire towards better urban environments with less congestion by highlighting how cities should feel like an extension of your living room, rather than a space for cars.

As the urban populations grow and cities are battling with rising transport emissions and congestion, shared mobility – including shared taxis, bikes and scooters – can help people switch away from using private cars by increasing connectivity to public transport and catering to people’s different mobility needs. Bolt offers taxis on demand in Dublin and Cork, and shared electric bike rental in Sligo, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Bray.

Research from the Tallinn-based firm revealed that only one-quarter of Irish drivers believe they are likely to give up their car in the next five years. Over half (54.55%) of the 1000 drivers that responded cited the overall expense of running a car as a potential reason for giving it up, whilst 52.35% mentioned rising fuel costs as a motivating factor.

A recent consumer survey from McKinsey found that nearly 50% of people are willing to swap private cars for different transport in the next decade, and almost 30% aim to use micromobility or shared mobility more in the coming decade. Bolt’s research also confirms that 63% of people believe shared mobility (ride-hailing, e-scooters, e-bikes, and car sharing) decreases the necessity for owning private cars.

Liisa Ennuste, a creative strategist at Bolt, said: “For decades, cities have prioritised cars over pedestrians, bikes and scooters. This is reflected in the space distribution in cities where more than 60% of urban areas are reserved for cars instead of pedestrians and infrastructure for more environmentally friendly modes of transport.

“Many cities have realised that and are moving away from a car-first mindset by building cycling roads, supporting micromobility, and turning parking spaces into small parklets. Our collaboration with Snapchat is a reminder of how cities can be improved by creating more spaces for people, not cars.”

Poli Dor, Head of Central & Eastern Europe Business Solutions at Snap, commented: “We’re really excited about our work with Bolt, not least because this project helps us to showcase AR’s ability to imagine and promote a more sustainable way of living. We have over 397 million daily active users on Snapchat, so to bring this type of creativity to our platform can have a massive impact, and can help educate people to make more informed lifestyle decisions, like how they get around their city.”

In addition to the Snapchat app, the Feels Like Home campaign will be activated across many other channels, including social media and OOH.

Feels Like Home is the latest Bolt campaign which highlights the potential for cities to be improved if more urban space was devoted to people and infrastructure for shared mobility options like ride-hailing, e-scooters and e-bikes, which reduce the need for owning a private car. Bolt’s suite of products offers viable alternatives to private car ownership: ride-hailing seeks to replace the need for owning a private car, while e-scooters and e-bikes are perfect for shorter journeys, and Bolt Drive can be used for longer journeys where ride-hailing is not suitable.

In past campaigns like Cities For People, Not Cars, Bolt has highlighted how urban environments have been transformed, showcasing historic photos of European landmarks filled with cars and newer photos from the same locations showing fewer cars and more space for people

Bolt launches shared electric bike rental in Bray, allowing customers to travel by bike and taxi with the same app for the first time in Ireland

European shared mobility leader Bolt, in partnership with Wicklow County Council, has officially launched its shared electric bike service in Bray today. The occasion was marked by an event at Bray’s Civic Offices attended by Cathaoirleach Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, members of Bray Municipal District, and other public representatives.

The bikes can be found at a variety of designated locations throughout the town and rented by the minute. Bolt and Wicklow County Council are confident they will support the transition away from the private car towards a combination of public transport and shared mobility. The service has an affordable €0.18 per minute charge and has been designed to connect to local Dart stations.

The launch coincides with #YourCouncil Day, which is intended to raise awareness of the many services local councils offer across the country. Bolt and Wicklow County Council are hoping the new service fits seamlessly into the local transport offering, and aid the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 which, amongst other objectives, seeks to facilitate a modal shift to more sustainable transport options.

Bolt offers a range of services on the same app in cities across Europe, but this marks the first time such a ‘multimodal’ service has been available in Ireland, with e-bikes now connecting with Bolt’s existing ride-hailing service in Dublin. This means a wide variety of mobility needs can be met within the Bolt app alone. For example, citizens can ride a bicycle to a public transport hub or destination in Bray at the start of the night, and then get home safely by taxi after public transport services have stopped for the night.

Bolt’s electric bike service will operate 24 hours a day. Amongst several other initiatives to ensure Bolt remains a responsible operator, the company will be employing an in-app cognitive reaction test 11pm-5am 7 days a week. This means prospective riders have to prove they are in a fit state to ride a bicycle through their reaction time. If a customer fails this test, they will be encouraged to take a Bolt taxi or use public transport instead, another benefit of offering multiple transport modes within the same ecosystem.

Bolt is taking multiple efforts to ensure the bicycles seamlessly integrate into the lives of riders and pedestrians alike. The roll-out of the bikes will be gradual, starting with an initial 50, scaling up to 100 pending positive feedback from all corners of the community and high levels of demand.

Bikes will be stationed in designated mandatory parking locations on public realm and private property (as agreed with the landowners). This means riders will be instructed where they have to park their bike through the app and physical signage. Locations are intended to be convenient yet unobtrusive, with examples including Shoreline Leisure Bray, Pettitts-SuperValu on the Southern Cross, Ballymore lands on the Dublin Road and of course at Bray’s Dart station. Operations – including the tidying and maintenance of bikes – will run from a town centre base, and feedback of all kinds can be shared in app or by emailing Ireland@bolt.eu.

Bolt is widely experienced in operating micromobility services. The company is the largest electric scooter provider in Europe with over 260,000 scooters across 25 countries, and already has a highly utilised electric bike service in Sligo, Kilkenny and Wexford. Furthermore, Bolt is in talks with several other councils keen to accelerate their active travel services in line with the National Development Plan and the Climate Action Plan.

For those not yet familiar with bicycles with pedal assisted motors, there is ‘Beginner Mode’. This limits the top speed of the bicycle to 15 km/h. Once ‘Beginner Mode’ is turned off, the bicycles have a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

Bolt Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland, John Buckley, said: “Bolt has seen rapid traction in e-bike schemes across a range of Irish cities, driven by strategic parking collaborations and affordable pricing. We’re thrilled to launch our electric bike service in Bray, and what great timing. Your Council Day embodies the value councils bring to their local communities – through this great initiative, we’ll be working with the Council to provide people with sustainable transport options so they can make the change where possible.

“It’s also great timing since our recent research revealed that only one-quarter of Irish drivers believe they are likely to give up their car in the next five years*. We’re on a mission to provide and advocate for the alternative, and make cities for people, not cars. Our thanks go to Wicklow County Council for the opportunity.”

The Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Melanie Corrigan, said: “I am delighted to launch this e-bike scheme here in Bray on ‘Your Council Day,’ the first of its kind in County Wicklow. It will offer local residents and visitors the opportunity to avail of a sustainable transport option in our town. With the introduction of this e-bike initiative on a pilot basis in Bray, we hope many people will change how they travel by reducing the reliance on private vehicles when travelling short-to-medium distances. Now more than ever, with both the climate and energy crisis, it is vital to provide facilities that allow the public to choose alternative modes of travel. This e-bike sharing scheme allows us to choose to travel in a more sustainable way and enjoy the social, environmental and health benefits of cycling.”

Emer O’Gorman Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council stated: “I welcome this low-carbon, sustainable e-bike scheme which will provide a vital transport option to the community of Bray. The initiative is a significant step forward towards fulfilling yet another commitment under our programme for Climate Action. Bray is an ideal town for this initiative and hopefully it will encourage more people to cycle over short trips and connect with DART and bus services in the town. It has been shown that e-bike users cycle further and more often so the benefit will extend beyond low carbon sustainability and will contribute towards the health and wellbeing of our citizens.”

Lorraine Gallagher, District Manager, Bray Municipal District added: “This is an excellent initiative which will assist in promoting the many benefits of sustainable travel to the people of Bray, and I would like to commend the project team from Bolt and Wicklow County Council for bringing this initiative to fruition and for choosing Bray. I would also like to thank local businesses who have worked with the project team in allowing bike parking bays to be installed on their property. I expect this shared electric bike scheme to be incredibly popular and will provide the enthusiasm for this Council to explore and introduce further sustainable and affordable travel initiatives going forward.”

Bolt launches shared electric bike service in Wexford during #BikeWeek

The mobility platform Bolt, in partnership with Wexford County Council, has launched its shared electric bike service in Wexford today. The launch is especially timely since Bike Week is taking place across the country May 13th-21st. Bike Week is a celebration and promotion of the benefits of cycling from the National Transport Authority.

As part of the launch and Bike Week, Bolt is offering each customer a free ride of up to 30 minutes*. The offer can be redeemed by inputting ‘BIKEWEEK’ into the ‘Promotions’ tab of the Bolt app from midnight 13th May – 23:59 21st May 2023. This gesture is intended not only to allow Wexford residents to become familiar with the service but also to encourage them to consider whether they could swap their private car for a combination of shared and public transport. This supports Bolt’s mission of helping to make cities for people, not cars.

Bolt has no unlock fee, and customers pay only for the minutes they’ve used, at €0.18 per minute.

Parking will be controlled via geofencing and will be located at 40+ clearly marked, convenient locations across town, including ALDI stores, Wexford General Hospital and Wexford Park GAA Stadium. Additional locations can be introduced, subject to popularity, feedback from the council and local users, or nominations from local businesses. Operations will be overseen by a local bike shop which ensures local knowledge and expertise.

The inclusion of the pick-up and drop-off locations within the app will ensure users can see where bikes are located and where they can safely and responsibly finish their journey. Other local community groups and businesses such as WWETB, YouthTrain and Waters Technologies Ireland Ltd., have supported the roll out of this scheme and provided space to ensure their users and visitors can choose this sustainable option.

Service features

The firm is taking several steps to ensure riders and pedestrians stay safe. For those not yet familiar with bicycles with pedal assisted motors, there is ‘Beginner Mode’. This limits the top speed of the bicycle to 15 km/h. Once ‘Beginner Mode’ is turned off, the bicycles have a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

Another way in which Bolt is allowing citizens time to get acquainted with the new service is the gradual roll-out of the bikes. 50 will be initially deployed. The size of the fleet will fluctuate depending on demand to ensure that the roll-out happens in a gradual and sustainable way across Wexford.

Bolt already operates a successful shared bike service in Sligo and Kilkenny. Since launching in the summer of 2022, over 170,000 km have been travelled on Bolt’s electric bikes. A survey amongst users revealed this means the service has saved 24,000 km of car trips in Ireland to date, equating to approximately 2,500 kg of CO2.

Bolt Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland, John Buckley, said: “I’m excited to launch our electric bike rental in Wexford, and what great timing in the midst of Bike Week.

“Recent research carried out by Bolt revealed that only one-quarter of Irish drivers are likely to give up their car in the next five years*. We’re confident that providing shared transport solutions will help to convince more people to ditch the car and choose a more enjoyable and sustainable way to travel.”

Wexford County Council Cycling & Walking Officer Claire Goodwin said, “Wexford County Council is delighted to offer local residents and visitors a sustainable transport option in the town. We see a real enthusiasm for making the change away from private car use if there is a convenient alternative. With the introduction of Bolt’s eBikes on a pilot basis into our town, we hope many people will change how they travel where possible.”

The Bolt electric scooter guide: the go-to overview of micromobility in Ireland

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 is set to go before the cabinet before being signed into law in the coming weeks, paving the way for the use of shared electric scooter schemes in Irish towns and cities while also setting rules for private electric scooter users.

Bolt, the European mobility champion currently operating in 500 cities across 45 countries, has compiled an electric scooter Q&A guide focusing on the current legislative situation in Ireland

The purpose of this guide is to give clarity about the current legalities of electric scooters and when regulations might change.

There are currently no regulations surrounding the use of e-scooters on Irish roads by the public and the Gardaí have the power to confiscate and issue fines for their use. There are presently retailers stocking private electric scooters in stores and online for use on private properties, but not permitted for use on public roads or spaces.

What is the current status of Electric Scooters?

Presently, e-scooters are classified as MPVs (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) thus requiring tax, a licence and insurance, if being used on a public road. Given there is no licensing or tax regime for this category of micro transport, their use on public roads is effectively illegal.
In general, Gardai have not been actively enforcing these requirements on electric scooter users in cities, however, they are still liable to be fined if stopped.

When will this change?

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 is a broad piece of legislation that allows for the Minister to introduce regulations to govern the lawful use on public roads of Powered Personal Transports (PPTs) which includes scooters, hoverboards, and future innovations.
The Bill was last debated in the Seanad on the 1st of February at Committee Stage. As a result of issues arising on that date regarding data protection for detection cameras on Bus Corridors, the Bill is awaiting further proposed amendments, before which will be proposed in the Seanad at Report stage. It will then be quickly referred back to the Dail for final stage, after which it will be signed into law. It is hoped this will have taken place by May 2023.
After the primary legislation has been enacted, the Minister will have the power to sign secondary legislation/regulations to govern the use of e-scooters. These regulations are likely to be completed in the coming months, however, prior to being signed into law, they will first need to undergo under further scrutiny by the EU for 3 months as part of the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS).
The use of private electric scooters should be legal by late Summer or early Autumn.
At this time, local councils nationwide are also likely to begin completing Bye-laws and issuing tenders to operate shared e-scooters schemes in their jurisdictions.
With various electric bike schemes already in existence throughout the country, there is a high probability that we could see electric scooter schemes integrated alongside these existing schemes.
It is not expected that we will see shared e-scooter schemes in Dublin or other regional cities until early-2024.

What are the key milestones dates?

February 1st 2023 – The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 was debated in the Seanad
The Bill is currently scheduled to be debated in the Seanad in mid to late April when it is likely to pass Report and final stage.
Likely May 2023- The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 will be officially signed into law
The Minister for Transport’s draft Regulations will be sent to the European Commission for scrutiny under the TRIS procedure – The EU TRIS procedure aims to prevent creating barriers in the internal market before they materialise. Member States notify the European Commission of any legislation which may restrict certain products, so that it can be scrutinised in light of EU legislation to ensure it does not result in any unfair or anti-cpmpetitive restrictions. Member States participate on equal footing with the Commission in this procedure and they can also issue their opinions on the notified drafts.
Autumn 2023 – E-scooters will become legal to operate in Ireland for the first time and council tenders are likely to be issued.
It is likely that we will see shared electric scooter schemes being deployed in early-2024.

When and where could we see shared schemes come in first?

There is a keen interest in introducing shared e-scooter schemes into the larger towns and cities across Ireland. However, their introduction may vary due to a number of factors.
For example, how quickly Dublin will see shared e-scooters will depend on whether Dublin Councils work together or whether separate tenders will be launched for each of the 4 Dublin Councils.

We expect there will be a sense of urgency for a swift introduction of schemes in the capital and other regional cities. The speed at which we see e-scooters rolled out in Dublin may also depend on whether the four councils team up.

What are the main benefits of electric scooters?

Reduce congestion
- Research conducted in conjunction with Norwegian-based TOI, demonstrated that 40-60% of Bolt app users across 10 European countries would opt to use an e-scooter instead of a taxi for journeys in the range of 3-5KM, demonstrating an awareness of sustainable alternatives and a desire to reduce traffic congestion in cities, when available.
Electric Scooters can be integrated into the wider public transport system
They are a sustainable alternative to private cars
- A Bolt internal survey showed that Bolt scooters helped avoid more than 2.4 million kg CO2 eq emission (20 million car km) in 17 countries in 2022.
  - That’s equivalent to:
    - Offsetting 18.5 million plastic single-use bags
    - Taking more than 2600 flights from Paris to New York (round trips).
    - The amount of kg CO2 eq offset by almost 117 thousand trees yearly.
- Bolt is making cities for people by shifting drivers from private cars to sustainable shared mobility.
- By offering sustainable shared scooters, Bolt helps people to switch from driving private cars, which translates to reducing CO2 emissions, noise pollution, and congestion.
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 30% of car journeys in Europe cover distances of under 3 km, and 50% cover less than 5 km. This means there is a huge potential in shifting people from private cars to shared mobility and thus making cities less congested, noisy and polluted.

E-scooters are a sustainable, effective and inexpensive alternative mode of transport for short to medium-length journeys. In a study in conjunction with TØI, Bolt found that 40-60% of app users would choose a scooter over a taxi/shared ride for journeys measuring 3 KM or less when prompted that an electric scooter was available nearby. Once people discovered the simplicity and convenience of using a scooter, they were more likely to opt for one instead of a car in the future. When integrated with the wider public transport system, electric scooters, alongside other forms of micro-mobility, are an effective solution to reducing congestion and pollution caused by an excessive amount of private car journeys.

What will the regulations look like?

Regulation	Status	Likely outcome
Max speed	TBC	25KM/H with Lower Max speeds in designated busy areas
Age Restrictions	TBC	Unclear if the Minister will impose age restrictions in regulations. Most shared e-scooter operators prohibit use for under 18 year olds.
Banned from paths and pavements	TBC	Extremely likely that electric scooters will only be permitted for use on roads and bike lanes
Need to wear a helmet?	TBC	Unlikely to be a requirement but likely to be recommended
Situation on insurance?	TBC	Private electric scooters will not be required to have insurance but will be personally liable for damage or injuries that they cause. Insurance is ordinarily included in the rental fee for shared scooter scheme users
Licence/ Reg Plate/ Identification requirement	TBC	Users will not be required to have a licence to operate an electric scooter. However, they will need to adhere to the rules of the road.
What will fines/consequences look like?	TBC	Breaking the rules of the road, not following regulations and improper and/or dangerous use of an electric scooter will likely result in fines.
Parking	TBC	Likely to vary across Councils, but mandatory virtual parking locations will likely be required in urban areas to ensure controlled and orderly parking.

What is Bolt doing to promote e-scooter safety?

Bolt sets a max speed for first times users at 15KM/H
- Users then have the ability to set their own speed limit if they want to keep the speed lower than the 25km/h max
Speed control in mixed use areas
Tandem riding detection which will alert a user to the breach of rules if they are carrying a passenger on the scooter with them, and restrictions will follow if repeated.
Geo-fencing technology which can control virtual parking to ensure parked e-scooters do not present a hazard to other road users
Cognitive reaction testing, used during night-time hours to detect and prevent usage of the e-scooters while drunk.

Bolt has introduced several features to enhance the safety of its users and the wider public. Inexperienced e-scooter riders are provided with the option of implementing ‘beginner mode’, which provides them the freedom to set their max speed lower than the default 25km/h until they are more comfortable in their ability to use the scooter.

We have installed geo-fencing technology, which enables us to prevent users from riding scooters in restricted zones – i.e. pedestrianised streets – or beyond city limits. In addition, Bolt can control the speed of e-scooters in areas of mixed use.

Our tandem riding detection tech has the ability to detect if there is more than one person using the scooter, curtailing irresponsible and dangerous riding.

During the nighttime and early morning hours, we switch on cognitive reaction testing on the app. This is aimed to detect and prevent users from using our scooters when under the influence of alcohol. If the user fails the cognitive reaction test, they are prompted to order a taxi on the app as an alternative and the e-scooter is not unlocked.

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