As South Africa marks Transport Month this October, Bolt, the leading mobility company, recently hosted a safety student event at the University of Johannesburg to educate students about the safety features available on the Bolt app. The event was part of Bolt’s continued commitment to promoting safer and more accessible transport for all South Africans, aligned with this year’s theme, “Doing More Together: For Universal Accessibility to Public Transport.”
Transport Month, now in its 19th year, coincides with the country’s celebration of 30 years of democracy and focuses on overcoming key challenges in the transport sector. Bolt used the opportunity to engage directly with students to understand their concerns and how it could improve their rider experience. During the event, students were also tested with real-life scenarios to help them understand when and how to use features such as the in-trip audio recording, the in-app emergency button and the trip-sharing functionality. To encourage participation, students stood a chance to win exciting prizes for answering correctly.
Simo Kalajdzic, Bolt’s Senior Operations Manager, emphasised the company’s commitment to rider safety: “At Bolt, safety is our top priority. We’re constantly improving our app to ensure our passengers feel safe and secure, and they must know how to use the tools we’ve provided. Educating riders, especially students, about the safety features available to them is a crucial step in helping them feel more confident when using the platform.”
Orefile Kubjana, a student from the University of Johannesburg, said, “Passenger safety should never be an afterthought; it’s a priority. Bolt plays a huge role in ensuring every ride is safe with safety features, such as in-trip audio recording and an emergency button.”
Luyolo Mpiti, another student and influencer at the event, appreciated the initiative and added, “In this digital age, I’m proud to be involved in Bolt’s initiatives to enrich students’ university experience. It shows that with Bolt, you are never alone with the app’s safety features. The event at UJ today was great, and I got to interact with the local Bolt team and ask questions about the safety features.”
As Bolt continues improving safety and accessibility, the company remains committed to enhancing public transport for all South Africans through technological advancements and community engagement.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bolt is the global shared mobility platform that provides ride-hailing, scooter and e-bike sharing, food and grocery delivery, and car rental services in over 600 cities across 50 countries. Bolt’s services connect to existing modes of transport, making it easier for people to travel. In doing so, we aim to reduce overall levels of car usage and ownership and help make cities for people, not cars. The company’s full range of services are:
● Ride-hailing
● Scooter and e-bike sharing
● Bolt Food, delivering ready-made meals from restaurants
● Bolt Market, a fast grocery delivery service
● Bolt Drive, car rental service
● Bolt Business, a corporate mobility service
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