Bolt says offline trips reduced by 42% in 3 months as it launches Public Safety Summit

Bolt Reports 42% Drop in Offline Trips as It Launches Public Safety Summit

Lagos, Nigeria — July 10, 2025 — Ride-hailing platform Bolt Nigeria announced a 42% reduction in “offline trips” over the past three months, as its first Public Safety Summit kicked off in Lagos. Executives say the decline is a direct result of increased use of in?app safety tools designed to keep riders and drivers within monitored, secure journeys

Safety Tools Fueling Change

• Trusted Contacts usage surged 298%, rising from 7,839 users in January to 31,216 in June.
• The Pick?Up Code—which confirms riders enter the correct vehicle—was adopted by over 5,500 users.

Bolt Nigeria’s GM, Osi Oguah, emphasized that offline trips constitute a major safety risk, stating: “Offline trips are a blind spot in any safety system… we’ve seen criminals exploit that space”

Summit Sparks Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

The Public Safety Summit, hosted at The Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, marks Bolt’s inaugural sector-wide safety forum in Nigeria. The event brought together riders, drivers, regulatory bodies, media, public safety experts, and civil society representatives

Bolt’s approach is evolving from building tools in isolation to building relationships—partnering with drivers, passengers, and regulators in shaping future safety measures

Beyond Features: Enforcement & Oversight

• Automated detection systems now flag drivers who repeatedly go offline to solicit off-app trips, triggering warnings or restrictions
• Other enhancements include in-trip audio recording (encrypted and auto-deleted after 24 hours), real-time emergency contacts, and optional trip refusal in risky zones without penalties
• Bolt is partnering with Lagos State’s Ministry of Transport to roll out industry?wide rider verification via national ID uploads—aiming to standardize safety across platforms and reduce migration of bad actors

What It Means for Riders & Drivers

This initiative highlights Bolt's strategic shift from reactive safety measures to proactive collaboration:

• Riders benefit from robust verification, pickup codes, and trusted contacts.
• Drivers are monitored for compliance, supported with safety tools, and empowered to avoid dangerous zones with zero penalty.
• Regulators & advocates gain a constructive platform to influence safety standards across ride-hailing services.

Outlook & Next Steps

• Scaling Nationwide: Bolt plans to extend these safety measures and summit-style engagement to other Nigerian cities — and potentially beyond.
• Industry Benchmarking: By inviting regulators and media, Bolt seeks to set a new standard for ride-hailing safety in Africa.
• Ongoing Innovation: Continued investments in tool refinement, policy frameworks, and public education campaigns are expected to follow.

Bolt’s 42% cut in offline trips demonstrates tangible progress. But the Public Safety Summit signals a broader ambition: a safer, more transparent ride-hailing ecosystem co-created with all stakeholders.