Autolib electric car share - Cyclepoint leeds

A report from Paris suggests that the city’s Autolib’ electric car share scheme is teetering on the brink of collapse. The Times says Autolib’, introduced in 2011, is racking up huge losses for operator Bollore. In what appears to be a case of one form of shared transport killing off another, the paper attributes the problems to the popularity of ride-hailing apps and even electric scooters. Bollore runs the Source London electric vehicle charging network and launched an electric car club scheme in London last year – Bluecity – albeit currently on a small scale.

Late news, but worth recording, is that the Cyclepoint at Leeds railway station has bitten the dust. Offering bike storage, repairs and accessories, the facility opened­­to great fanfare in 2010, being hailed as an example of the UK ‘Going Dutch’, embracing best practice from the bicycle-loving Netherlands. On a visit a few years ago, LTT was therefore surprised to learn from staff that the facility was hopelessly uneconomic. Evans Cycles threw in the towel in April and Network Rail and West Yorkshire Combined Authority are searching for a new tenant.