First, Mid, and Last Mile
Shared micromobility is transforming urban transport, complementing public transit to reduce car reliance. Bolt’s Berlin study shows that nearly half of shared trips connect to public transport, underscoring the need for smart regulation. Discover how cities can leverage shared mobility to create sustainable, accessible, and affordable networks.
Since Bolt was founded 11 years ago, shared mobility services have been driven forward by entrepreneurship, ever-increasing passenger demand, and the support from hundreds of cities. Today, the sector is set to expand its role in urban transport, with its share projected to increase from 3% in 2023 to an estimated 7% in 2030, thereby helping to reduce reliance on private cars. But it is the sector’s relationship with public transport and how cities will shape this connection that will really determine its future.
Public transport, as the original form of shared mobility, remains the most efficient tool available to cities. Despite this, only half the global population has convenient access to it it (75% in Europe and the US, 33% in sub-Saharan Africa), and investment in infrastructure is often constrained.
Shared mobility—especially micromobility—can work alongside public transport to close gaps in service provision, or ‘transport deserts,’ to create an affordable and accessible network that works for all. The interdependence between shared micromobility and public transport has long been evident in city centres, and Bolt’s study with Wildau University of Applied Sciences showed an even greater connection in three outer suburbs of Berlin: Erkner, Lichtenrade, and Zehlendorf.
The study tracked the usage of 50 e-bikes and 50 e-scooters over 9 months and found that 51-67% of riders used e-scooters as a first/last mile connection, with 24-35% using them several times per week. Notably, usage spiked between 1 and 6 am, outpacing that of the city centre at that same time, indicating the ability to supplement public transport when service is particularly limited.
Strengthening the relationship between private and public sectors
To achieve these benefits, regulation should always start with the end goal and work backwards; in this case, that means enabling shared micromobility to interconnect with public transport, close gaps, and provide flexible, affordable transport options—ultimately reducing the need for private car ownership. Why is this the goal? First, strong, combined networks make a huge impact on people’s lives; in a new ‘hybrid working’ era, 53% of our e-scooter customers use the service for commuting and this has an impact on their attitudes to car ownership.
Why is this the goal?
First, strong, combined networks make a huge impact on people’s lives; in a new ‘hybrid working’ era, 53% of our e-scooter customers use the service for commuting and this has an impact on their attitudes to car ownership.
Among shared e-scooter users who do not own a car, 30% say they are ‘less likely’ or ‘much less likely’ to buy one in the future due to their access to the service.
Shared mobility also has wider community benefit; Bolt’s recent survey of 14 major European markets showed that approximately 50% of users have made a purchase at local businesses within their last five trips, with 80% making purchases on more than two of those trips. The survey showed an average spend of €47, and about 27% of those trips would not have been made without an e-scooter being available, showing this spend is genuinely incremental.
The city as a whole benefits as well. A recent analysis by public transport consultancy KCW, conducted for Agora Verkehrswende and the WZB Berlin Social Science Centre, showed car usage in Berlin has declined 12% since 2019 and by up 37% on some commuter routes.
This shift was driven by several factors, including increased public transport use, and it cannot be a coincidence that Berlin has noticeably high connectivity between shared mobility and public transport (up to 62%, according to internal Bolt data collected from 1400 Scooter journeys across 6 countries in April 2024).
How to deliver this effectively
Smart regulation will build on strong foundations. A recent analysis by Bolt across 19 major cities in six markets showed that around 47% of journeys are linked with public transport, with this figure rising to 60% in some cities. Additionally, a broader study in August indicated an additional impact on the wider consideration of public transport; 53% of Bolt scooter users say they were more likely, or much more likely to use public transport for longer journeys since shared scooters became available.
Achieving this integration requires hard work—from the basics, such as sharing journey data with cities on popular routes and pick-up/drop-off locations, to offering tailored services in areas that are not well connected to public transport (such as Bolt’s partnerships in Germany). Integration with local city transport apps like Jelbi and Floyo also expands the range of accessible services.
Taking it further
Shared micromobility could expand further and faster. Regulation can make or break the ability of operators to deliver services at scale and the following considerations are vital for maximising the public benefits of shared micromobility:
- Incentivisation: Shared mobility is the first form of public mobility that is legally unsubsidised. Cities can contribute to higher adoption by developing infrastructure and creating incentives for operators to fill gaps. This should not happen through cutting availability in attractive locations but by subsidising lower-demand areas.
- Fair fees: Public acceptance of micromobility relies on investments in infrastructure. Well-designed mobility stations, like those in Berlin and Dusseldorf, help organise services, improve operational efficiency, and increase usage. Most operators are aware of this and willing to contribute through reasonable fees, but these should align with specific goals rather than pure revenue generation, which often has a negligible impact on city budgets but can significantly affect the viability of sharing programmes by driving up costs. In Warsaw, city fees are reinvested directly back into infrastructure—a true win-win.
- Flexibility: The success of shared micromobility depends on customer take-up and all our evidence shows this is driven by affordability and convenience. A recent study from Deloitte showed regulation has a huge role to play in this, finding a strong correlation between flexible regulatory models and greater levels of competition, affordability, and utilisation. Importantly, flexibility does not require sacrificing control; for instance, Munich’s use of dynamic fleet caps and zoning between the city centre and the suburbs demonstrates the positive impact of adaptable regulations on both neighbourhoods.
It is these types of conversations that we need to have if both operators and cities are to achieve their shared goals for micromobility services.
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About the author:
Haya Verwoord Doudri, Director of Public Policy, Bolt. Verwoord Douidri is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of experience in public policy, sustainability, and urban mobility. She has led transformative initiatives across the energy sector and high-growth tech scale-ups. Currently Director of Public Policy at Bolt, Verwoord Douidri is a sought-after speaker and holds a Master’s in sustainable energy policy from Columbia University.
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