Bolt Mobility brings a new group of escooters to Baltimore

After a brief time with three escooter brands around town, Baltimore once again has four micromobility options.

Bolt Mobility launched last week in the city bringing a fleet of yellow escooters. Known as Chariots, they’ll be operating in neighborhoods throughout the city. Under the permit, the company can start with a local fleet of 150 scooters, and increase gradually up to 1,000.

The company has grabbed headlines for the entrepreneurial moves made by its famed cofounder Usain Bolt.

“Given my vast travel experience all around the world for The Olympic Games, I have seen traffic congestion increase year-over-year and I believe that affordable and clean transportation solutions are needed in all cities so people can arrive to their jobs, appointments and classes on time,” Bolt said in a statement.

A local connection comes via co-CEO and cofounder Dr. Sarah Haynes.

“Maryland is my home state and Baltimore is an especially exciting city for us to launch in as during my time studying at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus, I became intimately familiar with what draws people to this great city, while also experiencing the transportation challenges that impact local traffic and mobility,” Haynes said in a statement.

Now the company is entering with an aim of alleviating traffic congestion and reducing dependence on personal vehicles. It also wants to provide the transportation option in an equitable fashion, with scooters deployed around the city.

In further seeking local impact, the company will hire several full-time employees including a general manager, mechanic and six to 10 drivers for fleet operations, which will run out of a local warehouse. The company’s employees will ensure the scooters are charged and working properly. Plus, the company said it has a 24-hour support service to make sure scooters are being used and parked in a way that’s not disruptive.

Bolt’s Chariot scooters have a notably different design than others, which the company said is with an aim toward safety. Side-by-side footrests allow riders to have both feet facing forward, which Bolt said allows for greater control and balance. They also have dual brakes, along with front and rear LED and brake lights. Plus, there’s a cupholder, cell phone storage space and other room for shopping bags and backpacks.

Bolt is one of four companies that were granted a permit to operate in the city following an extended pilot. The company represents a new escooter entrant, as Bird was the lone previously operating company that didn’t get a permit.

The year-old company has ambitious expansion plans: Bolt is already in 15 cities, and is planning an expansion to 40 this year.