By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Bolt (formerly Taxify), the leading on-demand transportation platform in Africa on 3rd May, 2919 launched operations in Uyo and Calabar. It is the first ride hailing service to connect passengers with drivers in these cities. The expansion move brings Bolt’s cities in Nigeria to a total of seven: the service is already well established in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Owerri and Benin City.
Bolt is a cell phone-based application that lets passengers easily, quickly and cost-effectively request for a driver to pick them up wherever they are, to take them wherever they want to go.
Uche Okafor, Bolt’s Regional Manager for West Africa: “After our successful launches in Nigeria’s main centres, expanding to Uyo and Calabar is a natural next step for Bolt as it further reinforces our position to make urban travel easier, quicker and more reliable. We are also looking forward to introducing flexible employment opportunities to thousands of drivers and vehicle owners in both cities”.
Bolt service is easy to use: passengers simply download the Bolt app from the iOS or Android app stores and set up a user profile. When they’re ready to ride, users open the app, set their location and their intended destination. The app will then give a cost estimate for the trip. Once passengers request the ride, the app alerts drivers nearby who accept the ride.
Once a driver has accepted the ride, passengers will be able to see their driver’s name, photo, car make and model, and registration, as well as be able to track the driver making his or her way towards them in real time – all of which makes it easy to be sure that they get safely into the correct vehicle with the correct driver. Passengers can also share their trip details using the “share your ETA” function on the app, as an extra layer of security.
When the ride is complete, payment is made with cash, or via the debit card details the rider entered into the app.
Popular trips in and around Uyo such as Ibom Plaza to Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort will cost between N1,800– N2,000, while UNIUYO to Ibom Tropicana will cost between N1,000 – N1,300. In Calabar, Marian Market to General Hospital,Mary Slessor will cost between N700 to N800, University of Calabar to Federal Housing Estate will cost N1,200– N1,400.
Passengers and drivers can rate each other out of five stars and leave feedback using the Bolt app.
Before Bolt launched in Uyo and Calabar, customers wanting to hail a driver had to stand on the road, call a taxi and negotiate pricing with them. Passengers would not be able to share their travel details with friends and loved ones or contact the driver in case of forgotten items in vehicles.
To celebrate Bolt’s launch in both cities, Bolt will be offering a 40% discount on all fares for the launch period and passengers can enjoy a free first ride up to N2000 with the promo codes BOLTUYO and BOLTCALABAR when they apply the promo codes using their debit cards.
Bolt has already signed drivers up to the platform in both cities, who all receive 85% of all fares paid by passengers. What’s more, drivers using the platform are their own boss, as they can choose how many hours they drive, there are no monthly dues, and they can work in whichever areas they want to.
Drivers’ cars must be a 2003 vehicle model or newer. The car has to be four-door (Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, etc) and must have passed a safety inspection. This means that everyone hailing a ride through Bolt can be confident that they will get to their destination safely and comfortably.
Bolt has been hugely successful in every city where it has launched since commencing operations in Nigeria in 2016. Launching in Uyo and Calabar is particularly exciting for Bolt, because everyone in these cities can now call cost-effective, quick, reliable and convenient rides from wherever they are to wherever they want to be.
How do drivers in Uyo and Calabar join Bolt?
If you want to become a Bolt driver, you will need a valid Nigerian driver’s license, an Android or iOS smartphone with GPS, and undergo an onboarding/training program.
For more information or to sign up to drive, visit https://partners.bolt.eu/
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