Bolt has announced that the Oslo public transportation app Ruter will soon include Bolt scooters. Ruter is the public transportation provider that plans, coordinates, procures, and promotes public transportation in Oslo and Viken.

As part of their policy to put sustainability at the centre of all they do, Ruter started looking to incorporate more sustainable practices into their organization in 2018.

Ruter’s goal of enabling “sustainable freedom of mobility” complements Bolt’s goal of creating cities for people rather than automobiles.

Why would a public transportation operator pick micromobility?

The city of Oslo has a Climate Strategy that outlines 16 actions the city must take to achieve emission-free status by 2030 and is closely tied to the UN’s environmental goals. Four of the phases have a direct bearing on the problem of transportation.

Oslo’s direct greenhouse gas emissions from transportation make up around half of these emissions, hence the city is preparing to ensure that all passenger cars on Oslo’s roads are emission-free by 2030 and that all public transportation vehicles are emission-free by 2028. They also aim to reduce car traffic by 20% by 2023 and by 30% by 2030 and make walking, cycling, and public transit the top options for getting around Oslo. The city is lookig to accept only large vehicles with zero emissions or those powered by renewable sustainable fuels as well as ensure that fjord traffic and port activities are emission-free. Policy makers aim to prioritize walking, bicycling, and public transit over private vehicles, among other things by accelerating the development of cycling infrastructure, lowering the cost of public transportation, and extending it throughout Oslo and the city’s outskirts.

Bolt’s expertise in micro-mobility and carbon-neutral scooters are key factors in helping the city’s achieve its objectives by helping Oslo reach their climate-commitments in the public transportation network.

Both the city and consumers stand to benefit from the complete integration of Bolt scooters into the Ruter app as use of the scooters  are set to reduce wait times, solves the first-mile problem, provides a sustainable alternative to private cars, reduces the amount of people using public transportation during rush hours, meets the transportation needs of a larger urban area, and enables users to pay for their entire trip using a single (Ruter) app.

What’s more, half a million Norwegians will now be able to give up their cars and move in a more environmentally friendly manner since, in addition to Oslo, Ruter is now active in micromobility in three different municipalities: Baerum kommune, Nordre Follo, and Asker kommune.

Bolt’s integration into the Ruter app demonstrates that micromobility is crucial for building more sustainable and livable cities, in addition to good public transportation options.

“We are very proud of this collaboration with Ruter. An important part of our mission is to reduce the number of private cars, noise and air pollution by making it easier for citizens to make more sustainable choices while getting from A to B with less effort. We’re sure that the integration of Bolt in the Ruter app will contribute to a greener city of Oslo.”
Bolt’s Country Manager, Jose Rei