Uber competitor Bolt has been active in The Hague since today. With the launch, the European taxi service meets the increasing demand for alternative forms of mobility and the desire to reduce car density in the city. Bolt launched last July in Amsterdam and Haarlem and has since expanded to 't Gooi, Almere and has been available in Rotterdam for three weeks. In The Hague Bolt starts with several hundred drivers who are affiliated with the platform.
The Hague has the greatest car density in the Netherlands and the distance between the neighborhoods is great, so that residents of The Hague quickly use their own car and the city is slowly silting up. By making Bolt's services available in The Hague, we hope to offer an alternative means of transport that would make residents less dependent on owning their own car. In this way we can contribute to the quality of life and accessibility of this city ”, says Lars Speekenbrink, country manager in the Netherlands.
In addition, The Hague, like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, has a strong international community. Estimated to be 12% of the residents are expats and 47% a one-person household. Since there is less economic value in car ownership for these groups, they are more likely to use alternative modes of transport.
As more becomes possible in the coming months, Bolt expects that the demand for (partial) mobility will only increase. Bolt is therefore starting in The Hague with a few hundred drivers. Speekenbrink: “By launching now, we can already give the drivers an extra stream of income in these difficult times and we work together on the growth of alternative transport options in the city.”
Better deal
Because Bolt operates efficiently and charges its drivers up to 50 percent less commission compared to the competition, both drivers and passengers get a better deal, Bolt spokesman claims. In addition, Bolt offers rides through the Economy category at 10% lower prices for the same vehicles, making it the most affordable taxi service on the market. In The Hague, Bolt also immediately starts with the Protect category, which is aimed at preventing the possibility of the corona virus spreading.
Also read: Uber competitor Bolt launches contactless payment
