Ride-sharing firm Bolt axes London surcharging during new UK lockdown curfew times

Image credit:Bolt

Following the Government’s introduction of a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants, ride-sharing firm, Bolt, has announced it is ditching its surcharge in London between 9:30pm-10:30pm, in what they say is a bid to reduce overcrowding on the streets at closing time.

The firm says it is “refusing to cash in on the restrictions to London’s nightlife and is showing solidarity with Londoners“. Surcharges will be banned on all Bolt rides from tomorrow evening [Thursday 24th September], in line with the Government’s timeline.

The surcharging will be axed during these times for an initial two weeks, the company said.

Sam Raciti, UK General Manager at Bolt, commented: “From tomorrow, we’re ditching the surcharge on our platform before curfew, when we know people will be trying to get home. We want to show our solidarity with Londoners by helping to stop overcrowding outside pubs and bars and by helping to stop the spread of the virus.

“London’s nightlife and night time economy has been hit hard by the virus and necessary lockdown restrictions. We want to do everything we can to protect our riders and the public.”

A surcharge is normally automatically applied to all rides once a certain number of riders in an area are on the app to encourage more drivers out onto the road, but Bolt has said it will remove this function to coincide with the Government-imposed curfew time.