Bolt to end e-scooter and e-bike service in Vila Real

Bolt's shared e-scooter and e-bike service in Vila Real will stop operating in September, the municipality announced. Bolt was responsible for battery charging, maintenance and relocating the vehicles, but told the council it no longer has an operator to carry out these tasks, making the service unviable under current conditions. The scooters launched in 2023 and bikes were added in 2024, proving popular especially among students travelling to the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. The council says it will now reassess the situation and consider launching a new public tender.