The mechanism of rating individual behavior to access services, proposed by fictions such as “Black Mirror”, begins to be transferred to specific contexts of daily use. This is the case of Bolt, which has launched “Riding Score” in Spain, a system that evaluates how users of its shared vehicles, such as e-bikes and scooters, drive and park.
The tool is framed in a context of growth in micromobility, especially in cities such as Barcelona or Almería, where the company has reinforced its presence with new fleets of electric bicycles. The system assigns a score from 0 to 100 after each ride, based on factors such as safe driving, correct parking, wearing a helmet or training at the Bolt Rider Academy. On the contrary, actions such as sudden braking, skidding or improper parking reduce the score.
Repeatedly unsafe uses may result in temporary suspension of the service
Gamification to organize urban space
The Riding Score introduces gamification mechanics to encourage responsible behavior. Higher scores allow access to benefits, such as free minutes or simplified parking, while repeatedly unsafe uses can lead to limitations, such as speed reduction or temporary suspension of service.
This approach connects in some way with the episode “Nosedive” of the series “Black Mirror” (Season 3), in which people constantly rate each other and that rating conditions their access to housing, transportation or social status. Unlike that dystopian vision, Bolt’s system is limited to the use of the service, but shares the logic of turning behavior into a visible metric that influences the experience.
Manuel Ortiz, Public Affairs Manager at Bolt. states that the Riding Score is as much a cultural as a technical tool. Shared vehicles are public transportation, not just private amenities. “By making responsible behaviors visible and rewarding, we not only improve user habits, but also redefine expectations around shared mobility.”
During the pilot phase in Oslo, more than 90% of users said that the system motivated them to drive safer, and nearly 60% acknowledged that the rewards influenced their choice of the service.
The initiative responds to a growing demand from cities, which are looking for solutions to manage problems such as improper parking, occupation of sidewalks or dangerous driving. In this sense, the system is integrated with other measures already implemented by Bolt, such as geolocated reduced speed zones, sensors in vehicles or cognitive tests to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol.
Beyond its practical application, the Riding Score opens the door to a trend in digital services that could involve converting user behavior into a measurable variable that directly impacts their experience.
