• The new service will be available in Manchester and Salford from Thursday April 14th

• Bolt is already used by 4 million customers in the UK

• The city will welcome Bolt’s first pop-up hub in its long-term partnership with The Bike Project to help refugees

Bolt, the UK’s second largest ride hailing app, is launching in Manchester and Salford on Thursday April 14th. Bolt has attracted more than 65,000 drivers and four million passengers across the country drawn by lower commissions, attractive pricing and consistently high levels of service.

Manchester is known for its buzzing nightlife scene, competitive football culture and is ranked the third best city in the world behind San Francisco and Amsterdam in the 2021 Time Out Index. As the fastest growing mobility platform in the world, Bolt‘s arrival will help Mancunians travel around their city safely and affordably making the most of what it has to offer - from the Etihad to the Arena, Canal Street to Ducie Street, the Printworks to Piccadilly Gardens.

Founded in 2013 Bolt runs a range of mobility services across Europe, with the aim of offering a better alternative to every purpose a private car serves, be it short or long distance, travel or delivery. The company runs its ride-hailing services in the UK and is keen to launch some of its other products within the app this year.

Bolt’s service offers favourable commission rates, meaning greater earning potential for drivers compared to other ride-hailing services. Drivers who activate by launch will be eligible for 0% commission for their first two months.

Bolt has also opened a Driver Hub on Union Street, in addition to the local licensed offices, accommodating a driver check-in and waiting area, six onboarding desks, and social features to help get drivers signed up with, and enjoying, Bolt.

To celebrate its arrival in the city, new users will have the chance to receive up to £10 off their first Bolt ride by entering the following code into the Promotions section of the Bolt App: ROLLWITHBOLT when they launch*.

Josh Ryan, country manager, UK rides at Bolt said:

“Launching in Manchester and Salford is a huge landmark for Bolt as we look to roll out more affordable services amid a wider mobility offering. The city is renowned for its fantastic culture and sport, great nightlife and atmosphere and we’re on a mission to help local residents, students and more make the most out of it by connecting them with the people and places they love. Bolt offers residents an affordable and responsible way to get around and we can’t wait to welcome the first set of passengers on board.”

Furthermore, Manchester is the first city where Bolt’s new long-term partnership with The Bike Project will be activated supporting local refugees in both their social and physical mobility.

Locals can donate bicycles to the initiative at pop-up hubs where bicycles will be refurbished as necessary, and given to local refugees to support independence, self-confidence and finding employment, and ultimately improve the pathways for refugees finding work once they have the right to remain in the UK. To supplement the launch and further support refugees, Bolt will encourage its customers to make small donations to the Bike Project through its app, provide drop-off zones for second-hand bicycles, and support applicants (both technically and financially) through the process of becoming a private-hire driver should there be desire for this. To read more, visit here.