IN THE NEWS
BOLT REACHES 9M PASSENGERS WITH 100,000 DRIVERS SIGNED UP IN THE 19 CITIES IT OPERATES
Ride-hailing platform Bolt has reached a landmark nine million passengers and 100,000 drivers signed up in the 19 cities in which it operates across the UK. In order to keep up with this demand, the company has moved its driver hub in the capital to Bermondsey. This comes as the Estonian brand announced it has surpassed 150 million customers in over 45 countries and 500 cities. Furthermore, there are now over 3.5 million partners (drivers and couriers) using the app to earn a
living, inc- luding over one million in Africa alone.
The new driver hub located in Bermondsey, is just minutes from Borough Underground station and London Bridge national rail station. The firm previously operated a driver hub in Chiswick, west London, but moved to the more central location to keep up with passenger and driver demand, and following feedback from drivers.
Bolt’s services in London continue to grow in popularity after it launched a dedicated Black Cab category in April, whilst research from the Tallinn-headquartered establishment discovered that a staggering one in two Londoners find the prospect of driving their own private car in the city centre causes them anxiety. Research
from Bolt has also
revealed that more than one in four (26%) of Londoners say they’re negatively impacted by
the
amount of street space private cars take up.
NEW PRIVATE HIRE APP CHOOSES LEEDS AS FIRST CITY TO LAUNCH AS A RIVAL TO UBER
A new private hire app is to be road tested in Leeds, with its creators hoping it will rival Uber and Bolt. Frenzi, which will soon launch in cities across the UK, has picked Leeds as its first stop in the coming weeks. The creators say it will give taxi users a new safety-first approach, including female-only driver options, immediate police notifications and even environmentally-friendly options. A tracking feature, named “mirror your loved one”, allows two users to connect and track each other’s driver, journey and destination. In terms the choice of female-only drivers, founder Stephen Clark said: “Approximately only two per cent of all taxi drivers nationwide are women. The gender gap in the industry is a big issue that needs to be dealt with.
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“One of the main barriers preventing women from pursuing a career in the private hire industry is the concern for their own safety. “This feature, which prioritises the safety of both our female drivers and passengers, is one of the ways we look to help close the gender gap in this industry.” The company, valued at £76 million, is promising to make it easier for drivers to make a fair wage, as well as allowing them to drive for as many other apps or fleets as they wish while being signed up to Frenzi, in order to maximise their own profits. Mr Clark said: “Affordability was a
significant concern for me as I wanted to make Frenzi the app that every driver favours. By setting the acceptance fee at 57p, I will strike a balance between ensuring the app’s sustainability and offering competitive pricing. “The 57p acceptance fee not only blows the other market standards out of the water by positioning Frenzi as the cost-effective option for drivers but also enables just as good customer service, if not better, in some cases.” Mr Clark added: “I’m thrilled to bring Frenzi to market after years of app development. Our app is the first of its kind to hold positive driver experience in the same regard as positive rider experience. “We want to
transform the
experience of using private hire apps for both riders and drivers alike.”
AUGUST 2023 PHTM
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