Voi urges London-wide micromobility licence

Voi has called for a single London-wide licensing system for shared e-bikes and e-scooters, arguing that the framework could eventually provide a model for other UK and international cities.

The operator says London is currently behind cities such as Oslo and Stockholm which established common regulatory systems several years ago. It warns that the UK capital’s fragmented borough-level approach could undermine investment, worsen street clutter and weaken public support for shared micromobility.

“Get this right, and London stops trailing the pack and starts setting the benchmark other UK and international cities look to,” Christina Moe Gjerde, Vice President Northern Europe at Voi, told Cities Today.

Voi wants Transport for London (TfL) to act as regulator, setting consistent rules for fleet controls, safety, data sharing and enforcement, while boroughs retain control over parking locations and street management.

Gjerde said the capital should have three licensed operators, each beginning with an equal fleet cap and competing on price, vehicle quality and service.

“London needs one framework, one regulator, one set of rules–not 33 different micromobility markets,” she said. “TfL should license shared bikes and scooters the same way it licenses every other part of London’s transport network.”

She cited Oslo, Stockholm and Paris as examples of cities where a limited number of operators compete under common conditions.

Voi says the case for reform has become more urgent as demand rises. Monthly journeys on its London e-bikes and e-scooters increased from 10,209 in May 2025 to 579,331 in July 2026.

Monthly active riders grew from 3,602 to more than 102,120 during the same period, while 43,400 people used the service for the first time in July.

Since entering London, Voi has secured contracts covering the City of London, Ealing, Kensington and Chelsea, Barking and Dagenham, Hounslow, Southwark and Westminster. It has also opened a warehouse in Kentish Town.

The company argues that separate procurement exercises and operating requirements create uncertainty for providers and make cross-borough journeys confusing for users.

Gjerde said the legal route to a unified system is already in place through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, but the Secretary of State must commence the relevant powers through secondary legislation.

“London isn’t starting from scratch–today’s market runs on MoUs and contracts, not statutory licences, so there’s no legacy regime to dismantle first,” she said. “Once the powers are commenced, a framework could move quickly.”

She called on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to set out when the scheme should begin, how many operators it would include and what improvements are expected before its introduction. These should include operators strengthening standards and boroughs installing more parking bays.

Without reform, Gjerde expects more boroughs to appoint their own combination of operators, deepening differences across the city.

“That means more clutter, more confusion at borough boundaries, and a worse experience for riders and pedestrians alike–right at the moment London needs people choosing active travel,” she said.

She warned that prolonged inconsistency could cause Londoners to reject shared micromobility even after regulation improves, while companies direct capital towards cities offering greater certainty.

Image: Elena Castaldi | Dreamstime.com