2025 has started with a bang at CoMoUK, we wouldn’t have it any other way. A plethora of consultations are live and we will be inputting fully. Do get in touch if you would like to share views; details below.
Not only have we seen one of the world’s most famous actors ride a shared bike onto the red carpet, we also have the child-friendly, cargobike and extra adult options hitting the market soon.
We’ve been delighted to carry on our pop up hubs project – more below – and have a packed agenda coming up.
Keep sharing and keep in touch,
Richard Dilks
Chief Executive, CoMoUK
News & insights 🗞️
Bike share innovating to provide kids seats, extra adult seats and cargo bikes
Some welcome experimentation from bike share operator Forest with the introduction of shared e-bikes with child seats, versions with an additional adult seat and e-cargo bikes, called ForestKid, ForestDuo and ForestCargo respectively. These will be launched in London and we will be very interested to see what the customer response is. We compiled this short case study of an e-cargo bike initiatives in shared bike fleets and are always keen to see such innovations that widen the potential the reach of shared bikes.
ForestKid
ForestDuo
ForestCargo
Positive congestion – the public affairs pipeline
It is certainly much better to have more interest in shared transport than less from policymakers. There is currently a packed roster of consultations and calls for ideas from Government and policymakers which CoMoUK will be engaging with.
We have just submitted views to Scottish Labour’s Policy Forum, an early start to the 2026 Scottish elections.
These include the English Devolution Bill, which proposes bringing in licensing for shared bike schemes. This is obviously a major step and one which we have been and will be inputting on significantly as CoMoUK and in consultation with all our stakeholders across operators and authorities. There are wider and important implications of the Bill in terms of the local government map in England and how that relates to transport and in the planned revival of Local Transport Plans. The survey for this closes on 28 January, if you would like to share your thoughts with us, please do so.
Also closing soon is the Treasury’s Spending Review. We will be submitting evidence to this on the taxation treatment for shared transport as well as the Government’s overall approach, including funding, to the sector. Again, do share your views with us if you would like to.
The DfT is running a series of regional events on this, here are the details for those that are still open for registration. Please note this is on a waitlist basis, they will be in touch with those with confirmed places.
Our pop-up mobility hub project is now in its second year. The two modular parklets with cycling facilities are currently popping up in locations in Glasgow and Inverness, supporting a range of active travel activities. It has been great to read the recent press coverage of the hub in Glasgow, including this Glasgow Times article.
Working with Glasgow City Council and nextbike as well as HITRANS and Hi-Bike, our hubs have facilitated 495 bike sharing journeys so far, with four more pop-ups to go. This phase of the pop-up mobility hubs project was funded by Paths for All's Smarter Choices, Smarter Places initiative, a grant fund of Transport Scotland.
If you are interested in having a pop-up hub in your area, please email us.
Welsh car club development
TrydaNi – a non-profit Community Benefit Society supported by the Welsh Government – has recently launched the first phase of a new electric car club network that will serve large parts of rural Wales.
Its new website explains how communities and individuals can express interest in setting up their own local club. Communities across Wales can trial the new service and explore low-carbon, low-cost alternatives to conventional car ownership, powered by locally generated community renewables.
New members 👥
Moonlight Energy
Moonlight Energy focuses on providing energy solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), including a swap-station service for charging and swapping batteries.
Shared transport user quote of the month:
"I have Long Covid and ME, so can’t ride a normal pedal bike at the moment. Being able to use the e-bikes still allows me to cycle with friends and travel in an ecofriendly way."
Female user from Fort William, Bike Share Annual Report 2023
