Micromobility has come a long way since the 2010s, but 2026 could be the year it finally goes mainstream across more of Britain, boosting connectivity and local economic growth, thanks to three key trends.
Fifteen years ago, 5,000 iconic Barclays Bikes were rolled out across central London in what was the UK's first shared bike scheme of the modern era. A rebrand, several expansions and bike upgrades later, they're an everyday staple of central London's transport system. They've since been joined by dockless e-bikes across most of the capital, including Voi's own e-bikes, which we have made available in a quarter of London's Boroughs in 2025.
If the trends we've started to see in 2025 continue, it looks like 2026 could be the year that Britain really embraces the electric-powered micromobility revolution: ridership has matured; the Government's new powers to properly regulate on-street schemes look set to pass through Parliament; and, with the clock ticking on e-scooter trial extension, could Scotland and Wales emulate England and prepare for their own trials too?
Let's look at each of these in turn.
1. Micromobility is going mainstream with maturing ridership
Across Europe, the demographics are shifting. We're seeing evidence that we're now past the 'early adopter' phase dominated by younger riders, and moving into more mainstream adoption across the population. The share of riders aged 45+ has grown dramatically, from 1-in-10 in 2019, to 1-in-4 today. Hi-tech e-mobility is no longer confined to young, digital natives without access to a car, but increasingly chosen by people who do have access to a car. This could represent one significant turning point in the story of micromobility.
And this has ramifications for carbon and congestion. Our survey found 4-in-10 of Voi riders say they drive less thanks to shared micromobility, but for riders aged 45+ this rises to 1-in-2. Commuting has also solidified its position as the leading trip purpose, while riding to social events and appointments during work hours also remain important to our riders. This is good news for British local authorities looking to shift the dial on active travel, reducing short, single-occupant motor journeys, without major funding sources of their own.
2. Local authorities will be able to take back control
2026 could also be the year authorities, particularly in London, are handed the powers to take back control of dockless e-bikes.
Since arriving in the UK we've been keen to champion national regulation and the need to end what the Mayor of London calls a 'Wild West' of unregulated e-bikes, clogging busy pavements.
In 2025 we started to roll out our more responsible approach to e-bikes in London, making and sticking to agreements borough-by-borough and council-by-council. Unlike other operators we are sharing data with councils in real time so they can monitor our performance and hold us to account , working closely with community stakeholders to identify and help fund the right parking spaces, and growing our fleets gradually and responsibly.
With the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill now in the Lords, we want to see the capital deliver a consistent, London-wide approach to e-bikes, that provides a seamless cross-borough travel experience for riders, keeps footways clear and puts the authorities back in the driving seat. London's e-bike bonanza could easily become more sensible, stable and sustainable for everyone - whether they ride or not.
3. E-scooters could roll out across the home nations
2025 has also seen new Voi e-bike schemes launch in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Scotland is embracing shared, electrically-assisted mobility. A scheme for Cardiff is on the cards. But e-scooters have remained absent from the home nations for too long. Providing quick, convenient and easy choice, often alongside e-bikes, e-scooter trials have proven them popular, safe and cost-effective. 2026 could be the year people in Wales and Scotland start calling for the addition of e-scooters to their popular e-bike fleets.
With just 28 months left to run on the English trial, the government would do well to timetable e-scooter legislation, lifting the last haze of uncertainty that hangs over only our corner of Europe. Despite years of evidence from English trials, and models to compare and learn from on the continent, we've yet to decisively back e-scooters as a mainstream mode of transport. 2026 should be the year we do so.
It's time to move or lose out on more gains
2026 could be a turning point for micromobility in Britain but to realise it we need clear government timelines, and firm powers for TfL and London's boroughs, to introduce schemes that work for all. Only then can we meet untapped demand, make greener travel a really attractive choice, reduce car use, and build thriving, liveable cities.
Until then, we will continue to lag behind Europe. Without swift legislation, the UK risks falling behind, missing out on jobs, investment, and green innovation. Voi's trial areas alone show micromobility can boost high street spending by over £100 million annually, proving the opportunity for micromobility-enabled economic growth across the country is huge. We need action now, or risk watching these gains slip away.
