Getting refugees cycling remains our mission, and we’re thrilled to launch a partnership with ride-share company Bolt to help us do that just!
Bolt operates ride hailing, car clubs, e-scooter, e-bikes and food delivery services across Europe and in Africa. Bolt’s ride hailing service is currently ‘live’ in 16 UK cities, with 4 million customers, and the company has ambitions to launch its wider mobility set over 2022 to support sustainable travel shifts and reduce private car ownership.
Bolt and The Bike Project’s new partnership will work in three ways:
- Bike hubs – Our waiting list continues to grow, and we urgently needs to find more bikes.
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- Along with Bolt, we will launch ‘pop up’ donation hubs in each new city Bolt launches into, targeting five new cities in 2022.
- Bolt will also make its existing infrastructure available to support ongoing bike donations, providing free rides home for those who donate their bike. This means new drop-off points!
- We’ve got big aims for this partnership as we are aiming to source an additional 1,000 bikes this year.
- Fundraising – We couldn’t do what we do without the financial support we get from our donors. And Bolt will make a significant donation and give its 4m+ customers the opportunity to make in-app donations over the next 12 months. This financial support will go towards funding our crucial programmes.
- Further transport – Bikes make a huge difference, but sometimes cars are still needed for bigger trips, like grocery or furniture shopping. Bolt will give The Bike Project’s network free Bolt credits so they can get themselves set up. Further down the line, Bolt will support training and qualifications for those with ‘leave to remain’ status to work with Bolt if they wish.
The partnership’s first activation will come with Bolt’s upcoming launch in Manchester in April, with a ‘pop up’ donation hub and Bolt’s new Manchester passengers given the option to make an in-app donation over the initial period of the service’s operation.
Our CEO Jem said:
“Here at The Bike Project we’ve supported over 9000 refugees get access to bikes in the last 10 years. But we still have many more waiting for help. Our partnership with Bolt allows us to expand on our work in London and Birmingham, and take our organisation to more cities across the UK. We’re so excited to work closely with Bolt and get more bikes to more refugees, starting with our Manchester launch. So look out for a Bolt drop-off point coming near you soon. And remember, Bolt will help you by organising a ride for free to your nearest drop-off location”.
Christian Berces, Director for Europe at Bolt, said:
“Bolt exists to provide ‘on demand’ transport when you need it; one part of our community that needs that more than anyone right now are refugees and asylum seekers. The Bike Project provides refugees with vital help as they get themselves established and we hope this partnership will help their drive to improve social and economic mobility in many exciting ways”.
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