New scooter rental service launched in Nicosia

Leading European on-demand transportation platform Bolt on Monday announced the launch of electric scooter rentals in the Greater Nicosia area.

In its announcement, the company, which has over 150 million customers in over 45 countries and over 500 cities across Europe and Africa, noted that by combining ride-hailing and scooter rentals, it aims to simplify transportation needs for people in the Cypriot capital.

Paul Alvarez, Regional Micromobility Manager at Bolt, said that “Bolt’s mission is to simplify urban mobility, especially in congested cities like Greater Nicosia, where beating traffic is a significant challenge”.

“Electric scooters offer a more efficient alternative to cars with drivers for many short trips,” he added.

Highlighting the local suitability, Alvarez explained that “with every fourth ride in Cyprus being shorter than 3 kilometres, Greater Nicosia is an ideal setting for scooter trips”.

He further explained that “in addressing both issues of reducing car rides and saving time and money for our customers, we believe our service provides a dual solution for urban commuters”.

In alignment with this strategy, Kristian Kobescak, Country Manager for the Country at Bolt, underlined the importance of safety.

“Ensuring the safety of our riders and others in traffic is our top priority when it comes to scooter rides,” Kobescak said.

“Therefore, we rely on the sensibility of people in Greater Nicosia to behave responsibly, both with the scooters and in traffic,” he added.

Kobescak further outlined the company’s collaborative approach, saying that the goal is to collaborate with the city government to establish best practices for scooter use in Greater Nicosia, fostering a safe and responsible environment for everyone on the road.

For Bolt app users familiar with ride-hailing, a new scooter emoticon will appear after updating the app. Clicking the emoticon takes them to the scooter rental interface.

Moreover, the company noted that those without the Bolt app can download it from Google Play or the Apple Store.

Unlocking the scooter involves scanning the QR code on the scooter, accompanied by initial instructions on safe riding and parking.

The initial scooter unlock is free, with a subsequent charge of €0.2 per minute during the ride. For instance, a 10-minute ride covering several city kilometres will cost €2. To mark the scooters’ launch in Greater Nicosia, unlocking remains free until the end of the year. No pre-payment or subscription is necessary for Bolt scooter use.

The company stated that throughout Greater Nicosia, scooters will be strategically positioned at transportation hotspots and popular locations.

Upon reaching their destination, riders are encouraged to park the scooters securely on the street, preferably at designated spots visible on the in-app map.

Bolt plans to deploy 1,600 scooters in Greater Nicosia, with the flexibility to increase this number based on user demand.

Bolt scooters come with built-in GPS trackers to provide data on pickup and drop-off locations. Every morning, Bolt will redistribute the scooters to the designated spots.

“Operating in 250 cities across 25 European countries, Bolt is actively planning for substantial expansion in the upcoming season, exploring entry into additional countries and cities,” the company concluded.