Spanish Ministry Proposes Compulsory e-Bike Insurance

Spain The Spanish government is considering implementing mandatory insurance for e-bikes, a policy that would put it at odds with the rest of Europe. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation’s push to incorporate “personal mobility vehicles” within regular motor vehicle regulations would bring a need for compulsory insurance for electric bicycles. The controversial proposal…

Wellington Adopts NZ’s Largest Cycleway Network

The Bike Network Plan will leave around 20% of Wellington roads with separated bike lanes, linking the CBD with every major suburb.

Wellington, NZ A 166km cycleway network has been approved for NZ city Wellington, to be established over the next 10 years. A Wellington City Council meeting last month voted to approve the $334 million project, after adding 37km to the 129km proposal put out for community consultation late last year. The council received 1,140 submissions…

New e-Bike GP Series Chasing Australasian Host City

Photo: EBK GP

Dubai, United Arab Emirates A new e-Bike Grand Prix series (EBK GP) will debut in Dubai later this year, with organisers in “extensive negotiations” with several Australian and NZ cities to include this region in an inaugural international calendar in 2023. BMC Switzerland has signed as the official supplier of e-bikes for the series and,…

Bolt Boost for Ukraine and RiSafety

Bolt is testing AI technology to enable its scooters to detect different types of infrastructure and prevent riders travelling on footpath. Beam is implementing similar technology in Australia.

Tallinn, Estonia Leading European micromobility provider Bolt has been busy on the well-being front: donating €3 million (A$44.41 million) to aid agencies, trialling new AI technology to stop people riding its scooters on footpaths and boost safety, and giving its own coffers a very healthy boost. Earlier this month, the Estonian company announced it has…

European Industry Bands Together for Packaging Reduction

Bike packaging

Brussels, Belgium Nearly 70 companies have signed up to a European industry commitment to address ballooning packaging waste. By the start of this week, 67 businesses had joined the Cycling Industry Sustainable Packaging Pledge, coordinated by the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) to reduce plastic packaging and eliminate…

Spin Purchase Lifts TIER to World Leader

TIER Mobility now has a fleet of around 300,000 scooters, e-bikes and mopeds.

Berlin, Germany Berlin company TIER Mobility has become the world’s largest multimodal micromobility operator, following its purchase of Ford-owned micromobility operator Spin. TIER now operates more vehicles and in more cities than any other operator, after this month’s acquisition boosted TIER’s global footprint by 106 communities in North America. It was TIER’s third acquisition in…

National e-Bike Battery Recycling Program in US

Battery recycling

Atlanta, Georgia, US An industry-wide e-bike battery recycling program was officially launched in the US at the start of this month, with more than 800 retailers trained and equipped to handle expired or damaged packs returned to shops. The program is being administered by Call2Recycle, a not-for-profit consumer battery recycling and stewardship program created from…

Gogoro Solid-State Battery Prototype Brings Capacity Boost

Solid-state batteries will surpass the capacity of current lithium batteries by about 40%.

Taoyuan, Taiwan The world’s first solid-state lithium ceramic battery prototype for two-wheel battery swapping has been unveiled by Taiwanese company Gogoro, a leader in battery swapping technology. Gogoro has worked with ProLogium Technology, a global leader in solid-state battery technology and also based in Taiwan, to develop the solid-state battery prototype, which integrates with Gogoro’s…

Record Funding for UK Cyclist Training

Bikeability students

Cambridgeshire, UK UK cycle training program Bikeability will receive record funding of £20 million (A$36.28 million) in government investment next year to increase access for the nation’s children. Bikeability has trained more than 3.6 million children since 2007 and the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the record funding to “ensure even more are equipped with the…

Yamaha Unveils Electric Vehicles For Europe

The two electric scooters, concept moped and three e-bikes Yamaha unveiled for the European market.

The Netherlands Yamaha’s long-running association with electric-powered vehicles is entering a new chapter, with the Japanese company announcing it will launch three new e-bikes in Europe during 2022. Unveiling Yamaha’s Switched On two-wheel electric vehicles program, Yamaha Motor Europe announced all-mountain, gravel and urban e-bikes that would be released in cities throughout Europe in the…