Bolt has launched its second Irish electric bike scheme in Kilkenny ahead of the Kilkenny Arts Festival starting on Thursday (4 August).
The 80-bike pilot will trial virtual parking solutions for flexibility and ease of use for cyclists, and the service aims to deliver on the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021-2027, which prioritises sustainable transport and the development of walking and cycling infrastructure.
"We are delighted that people will have another choice of transport in Kilkenny. It has been shown that e-bike users cycle further and more often so the benefit will be not just to our city but also people’s wellbeing," said Caitriona Corr, cycling officer with Kilkenny County Council.
"E-bikes can be of great assistance to people with reduced mobility and can make more arduous journeys very enjoyable.”
Bolt launched an e-bike scheme in Sligo earlier this year, and the company said that users had travelled 14,633km using its bikes in the first month alone.
In Association with
Bolt has committed €5m to rolling out e-bike operations in Ireland, with up to 2,000 bikes being made available following its recent fundraising efforts and an investment of €150m from founder Markus Villig.
"Kilkenny is our second Irish market and one where we believe e-bikes can make a transformational difference to travel options and wellbeing. We are also conscious that Kilkenny is a medieval city and as such presents new challenges from an operational perspective," said John Buckley, operations manager for rentals in Ireland at Bolt.
"The learnings we will gather from Kilkenny will give Bolt a stronger understanding of the concerns some Local Authorities may have when it comes to introducing shared e-bike schemes into the public realm where space may be limited, and will leave Bolt as an experienced operator of such.
“Electric bikes play an essential role in reducing the reliance on private vehicles when travelling short to medium distances. We are keen that our e-bikes provide sustainable and affordable solutions in regional towns and cities too — there is no reason that such services should only be available in the capital.”
The scheme requires users to download the app and set up an account. They can then use the app to locate their nearest bike, scan a QR code to unlock it, and the pay 15 cent per minute to use it.
E-bikes have a lifespan of up to five years and are made with 100% recyclable aluminium and a swappable battery with a range of 90km per charge. They are also equipped with a functional dashboard providing information about speed, battery level and speed zones.
The company offers micromobility services in more than 400 cities across Europe and Africa and estimates that it has 100m customers across ride-hailing, shared cars and scooters, and food and grocery delivery services.
Photo: John Buckley (right).
