A mobility firm based by Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt has left some U.S. cities suffering from nonfunctional electrical bikes and scooters after abruptly shutting down.
Bolt Mobility, in an Aug. 3 assertion on its web site, stated buyers had did not ship on commitments to the corporate, forcing it to “considerably reduce operations.” It stated franchisees had been persevering with to function in 25 markets however that it needed to depart eight that had been underneath company management.
TechCrunch reported that the markets Bolt deserted embrace Portland, Ore.; Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski, Vt.; Richmond, Calif.; and St. Augustine, Fla. Officers in a number of of the cities stated the corporate disappeared with out warning or rationalization.
“All of our contacts at Bolt, together with their CEO, have gone radio silent and haven’t replied to our emails,” Robert Goulding, public info supervisor at Burlington’s Division of Public Works, instructed TechCrunch.
Officers stated Bolt left about 100 inoperable e-bikes mendacity round within the Vermont cities and 250 in Richmond. That metropolis was asking residents to not vandalize the bikes till it might determine what to do with them.
The corporate, in its assertion, stated it might work with its franchisees “to supply assist in accumulating any belongings (bicycles and scooters) that stay in non-operational markets.”