Date: 16 May 2022 Sligo County Council has partnered with electric bike company Bolt to deploy over 100 electric bikes across the town. It is anticipated that the rollout of ebikes will commerce on a trial period in June until November. In recent months, several shared mobility companies have contacted Sligo County Council to express an interest in partnering with the Council on the rollout of a shared electric (e-bike) scheme for the Sligo Urban Area. It was important to establish the viability of a shared e-bike scheme and if it will encourage the desired modal shift from private car towards sustainable transport within Sligo. As a result, rather than enter a long-term arrangement with a shared mobility company, it was decided to invite proposals for a six-month long trial shared e-bike scheme. Accordingly, on 11th April 2022, the Council invited companies to submit Proposals for the implementation of a trial shared e-bike scheme. The closing date for submission of Proposals was 22nd April 2022. Following these request, Sligo County Council intend partnering with Bolt on the development of a free-floating electric bike service for Sligo Town. Speaking on the announcement, Aisling Dunne, Head of Public Policy for Ireland at Bol stated, "Sligo is an ideal town in which to launch Bolt's e-bikes in Ireland; with the growing university, recently increased investment in cycling infrastructure and real public support for making sustainable choices”. Bolt: Founded in 2013, Bolt are offering shared mobility solutions including e-bikes, electric scooters and car sharing across 45 countries in Europe and Africa including Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon and Tallinn. Bolt are delighted to partner with Sligo County Council on this free-floating e-bike scheme in Sligo Town and are proposing to provide 100No. bikes, subject to Council approval. Bolt are proposing to partner with a local provider for the purposes of day-to-day management of bikes. The trial scheme will operate based on approx. 40 designated bike parking areas around Sligo Town and Environs. These parking areas will be selected in conjunction with Sligo County Council and will be Geofenced to ensure the safe parking of bikes. Bolts proposed pricing is as follows: - €0.15per minute per bike i.e. €3 for 20 mins, but with proposed discounted pricing structures which encourage/reward greater levels use (lower weekly and monthly rates). These rates are extremely favourably when compared to other shared bike schemes. The proposed bikes have the following specification: Range: 90km Mass: 38.5kg Swappable battery 100% recyclable aluminium frame Load capacity: 120kg Max. speed: 25kph The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Paul Taylor said, ‘This is an excellent initiative which will enable us to promote the many benefits of sustainable travel to the people of County Sligo, and I would like to commend the Project Team for bringing it to fruition.’ Chief Executive Martin Lydon said, ‘I expect the shared electric bike scheme to be hugely popular, and will provide the impetus for this Council to explore and introduce further sustainable travel initiatives in the future.’