Ride-hailing platform Bolt reaches 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 a city centre location.
The landmark figures and relocation come as the Estonian brand announces 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, including over 1 million in Africa alone.
The new driver hub is in Bermondsey, just minutes from Borough Underground station and London Bridge national rail station. Free parking is available in the vicinity of the office which is open Monday to Friday, 9:30am–1pm and 2–4:30pm.
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.
Debbie Meijer, Senior Operations Manager for Bolt in London, said: “Bolt’s offering and popularity with drivers and passengers continues to grow from strength-to-strength not only on a global level but also here in London and the UK.
"Our job is to make everyone’s journey with Bolt as convenient and seamless as possible. As a result, having a place right in the city centre where prospective and current drivers can easily check in made complete sense.
"We’re looking forward to welcoming them at our new hub.”
Research from Bolt 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. As a result, the company included London in an online photography gallery it built that showcases how European cities continue to be transformed into safer, greener and more liveable places. The project is dubbed ‘Make Cities for People’.
The developments come hot on the heels of Mikko Salovaara being named CFO as the company expects to reach company wide profitability on a full net income basis over the next 12 months and to be ready to go public in 2025. Mikko will be based in London.
Plans to rebrand Newcastle’s taxis in black and white have been put on hold for now.
ChronicleLive reports that council bosses have pressed pause on their proposals to require the city’s hackney carriage drivers to deck out their vehicles in the famous colours of Newcastle United.
The idea was unveiled last month and was designed to give officially-licensed taxis a “distinctive” look that could help to cut crime, amid concerns that criminals have been posing as cab drivers to target vulnerable victims in the city centre.
But the scheme sparked anger among drivers, who staged a protest outside Newcastle Civic Centre in June and claimed that the cost of fitting white vinyl wraps around their bonnets would become a “huge burden”.
The controversial new taxi policy was due to get the final seal of approval at a Newcastle City Council meeting on Wednesday night, 12 July, but was pulled from the agenda just a few hours before.
A council spokesperson confirmed that the delay was to allow for further talks with the GMB union and drivers.
They said: “Taxis play an important role in keeping our city moving and many people in our communities rely upon them. Everyone who uses a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle in Newcastle should feel safe doing so and that’s exactly what these new measures set out to achieve.
“It’s clear there has been some misunderstanding about the purpose of the policy and the positive impact this will have for public safety.
"We have held productive conversations with the GMB and these will continue. The GMB are clear they are not asking their members to object to the policy.
"Over the summer we’d like to continue that engagement with GMB and the trade to clarify the purpose of the policy. The item for discussion will be deferred until the next council meeting to allow these conversations to take place.”
Dozens of hackney carriage drivers demonstrated outside the civic centre when the taxi policy was discussed by the council’s cabinet last month. While the council is planning to give a £100 grant to each of the 597 licensed hackney carriage drivers in Newcastle to help with the cost of fitting the white wrapping, it was feared that drivers would be forced to pay for them to be replaced regularly once they get dirty or damaged.
Drivers also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service about concerns that criminals would still be able to easily copy the new taxi design, passengers could mistakenly think that drivers had been forced to replace their bonnet after being involved in a crash, and that the black and white livery would deter non-Newcastle fans.
A total 96% of drivers who responded to a council consultation on the plan expressed their opposition to the white bonnets.
But the new design had been praised by the city’s street pastors, nightclub door supervisors, and organisations trying to prevent violence against women.
The black and white branding would only be required on hackney carriages and not for private hire vehicles. Under the proposed new policy, private hire vehicles would have to be adorned with a green council plate and display the operator’s details on the back passenger doors.
Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/council-taxi-black-white-newcastle-27309762
A man has died after falling from a taxi at an NDR roundabout.
According to the Eastern Daily Press, the incident happened on Saturday, July 1, at about 7.35pm at the North Walsham roundabout at the junction with the B1150.
A man in his 50s was travelling in the rear of a silver Ford Galaxy taxi when he fell from the car.
Police were assisted by an ambulance, rapid response vehicle, ambulance officer vehicle and an East Anglian Air Ambulance.
He was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge by air ambulance with serious head injuries but has since died.
Police are eager to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Sgt Andrew Smith quoting 36/47189/23.
Source: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23644639.man-50s-dies-falling-taxi-ndr-near-norwich/
A private hire driver has been caught plying for hire in a council sting.
The Shropshire Star reports that Kobina Badu, 42, agreed to give two undercover Telford & Wrekin Council officers a lift after they approached his Go Carz vehicle near The Parade in Wellington in the early hours of November 27, last year.
Council prosecutor Hafsa Khatun told the town’s Magistrates’ Court that Badu was licensed by Wolverhampton City Council as a private hire operator, meaning he was only permitted to carry passengers on pre-booked journeys.
Badu pleaded guilty to the offence of plying for hire and another charge of driving with no insurance, as his policy would have been invalidated.
Ms Khatun said the council’s enforcement team had been taking part in a joint operation with West Mercia Police on the night in question.
She told the court the undercover council staff approached Badu’s car at 2.16am, and he agreed to take them to a nearby hotel for £15.
Once in the vehicle, the passengers sent messages to police colleagues to alert them, and Badu was pulled over a few minutes into the journey.
He was instructed to follow the police car to the hotel where the operation was based.
During the journey, Ms Khatun said Badu pleaded with the passengers to tell the police they were friends of his.
Upon arriving in the hotel car park, he was questioned and accepted he knew he was not licensed or insured to pick up fares that were not booked.
An email from Badu’s solicitor was read to the court, saying Badu had worked as a taxi driver since coming to the UK in 2017 and had “never done this before”.
It said he was now likely to have his private hire licence revoked, which would have a “significant impact” on his family as he was the sole earner in his household and had four children.
The letter added: “He really regrets his actions. He has never done this before.”
Addressing the magistrates, Badu said he had finished for the night and the hotel was on his route home, so he agreed to take the passengers as he thought they were visitors to the area who did not know the way.
He said: “I am not a bad person.”
Badu was handed a six-month conditional discharge and had six points added to his driving licence.
He must also pay a contribution of £550 towards court costs and a £26 surcharge.
A man has been arrested after a 'disturbance' between a taxi driver and another car.
TeesideLive reports that police were called to Westbury Street in Thornaby on Monday 10 July, shortly after 9pm following reports of a disturbance between two vehicles on the road, one of which was a taxi.
Witnesses in the area at the time claimed that a "taxi driver [was] held at knife point" during the incident and while he had not been injured he was left "shaken" by the ordeal.
Now, Cleveland Police has confirmed that a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon.
He is currently being held in police custody while he is questioned by officers.
The force has since launched an appeal to find anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or have any information or CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage from around the time of the incident that may help with its investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number, quoting 135908.
Alternatively contact www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555 111.
Source: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/man-24-arrested-after-taxi-27299510
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.