Bolt has added a driver behavior rating feature to its app for electric scooter users. After each ride, the system analyzes how the user rode and where they parked the vehicle — then generates a personalized rating.
The algorithm takes into account sudden braking, riding on sidewalks where prohibited, and improper parking — for example, in the middle of a pedestrian crossing or on the roadway. The lower the rating, the more restrictions an account may receive, up to being blocked from accessing the service.
Why this matters beyond Bolt itself
Electric scooters have been a source of conflict between cities and rental companies for several years. Kyiv, Warsaw, Paris — the same pattern everywhere: the service arrives, the number of scooters grows, then complaints appear about chaotic parking and accidents, after which the city either limits the number of units or introduces penalty zones.
Bolt appears to be trying to get ahead of this scenario through self-regulation: if the company itself filters out violators, city authorities will have less reason for strict restrictions. This is business logic, not altruism.
Where the weakness lies
The rating system is not a neutral tool. Bolt itself determines what constitutes a violation, evaluates it — and passes judgment in the form of blocking. Users have no independent arbitrator in this process. A similar model in ridesharing has already shown its problems: ratings can be incorrect, and appealing them is difficult.
It's also important to understand that collecting data about routes and driving style for each user is a significant amount of information. How long it is stored and whether it can be shared with third parties — public company materials don't provide answers yet.
What's next
The feature is being rolled out gradually in different cities where Bolt operates. The service works in several major Ukrainian cities, and the appearance of the rating system here is a matter of the coming months.
If the system truly reduces the number of scooters abandoned in the middle of sidewalks — cities will get an argument to leave the rental business alone. But is Bolt ready to make the evaluation algorithm transparent enough for users to understand exactly what they were penalized for?
