Bolt to launch new micromobility pricing scheme in Brussels

European micromobility operator Bolt has appointed an independent Micromobility Safety Committee to get expert analysis and recommendations on its scooter and e-bike safety solutions.

The committee, which consists of six mobility experts, met for the first time on 26 September at Bolt headquarters in Tallinn and, according to Bolt, welcomed its plans to launch distance-based pricing in Brussels as opposed to charging per time.

Changing riding behaviour

The current industry standard of charging riders for the duration of their trips can incentivise them to reach their destinations as quickly as possible, Bolt reports, potentially leading to speeding and other risky riding behaviours like ignoring traffic lights.

Distance-based pricing is aimed at ensuring riders focus on riding safely. Bolt will roll out the new pricing solution in Brussels later this year to all riders.

“Charging riders of mobility services based on distance rather than time is an important step to prioritise safety over speed because it eliminates the financial incentive for people to use transport in risky or dangerous ways”

In addition to launching distance-based pricing, the committee also recommended that Bolt review its data-gathering to better assess the impact of micromobility on vulnerable groups, such as visually impaired people, to understand potential risks and develop solutions to tackle them.

Given that shared scooters and e-bikes are still relatively new solutions, the committee also advised adopting data collection methods and aligning definitions of what constitutes an accident more closely with other transport types. This will help operators and cities to better understand how micromobility can be implemented as safely as possible.