Seville is modernising public transport with help from Bolt and ETH Zurich

Seville is a city rich in history — but its gaze is firmly on the future.

As part of its bold Seville Respira Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, the city is charting a course toward a cleaner, greener, and more connected transport system. This transformation includes reducing dependence on private cars, improving air quality, and modernising public transport infrastructure. 

While the ambition is clear, so are the challenges: with only one existing metro line, Seville currently trails other major European cities when it comes to high-capacity public transit.

To help turn vision into action, Seville has launched a groundbreaking research partnership with the Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab — a collaboration between ETH Zurich, one of the world’s top technical universities, and Bolt, the leading European mobility platform.

A data-driven approach to transport planning

The project will bring together cutting-edge academic research, real-world user insights, and rich mobility data from Bolt to inform better transport planning. 

The research programme will support cities in optimising plans to expand the metro, tram, and bus rapid transit network — with a strong emphasis on making these systems technically feasible, cost-effective, and seamlessly connected to active and shared modes of transport.

Professor Bryan Adey of ETH Zurich describes the collaboration as a “wide-ranging programme using data-driven methods, user feedback, and simulation models to accelerate Seville’s transition toward a more integrated, safe, and sustainable urban mobility system.”

The role of shared mobility in building a connected transport network

Bolt’s contribution is more than financial — it’s deeply integrated into the research itself. With 47% of Bolt scooter rides already connecting directly to public transit and 20% of ride-hailing trips serving areas without transit access, Bolt’s data offers a real-time lens into how people move across the city — and where public transport could serve them better.

“Seville has a vision for a more sustainable, resilient city for its people,” said Jevgeni Kabanov, President of Bolt. “We’re excited to be part of that journey, providing expertise, data, and funding to help make it a reality.”

The 4 focus areas behind Seville’s smarter mobility planning

The Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab will focus on four interlinked areas of research:

1. Understanding travel behaviour
   By analysing spatiotemporal data and conducting user surveys, the team will map how different demographics move through the city, where they park, and how they experience transport services. This will inform strategic decisions about infrastructure upgrades — from pedestrian improvements to new mass transit lines.
   
2. Improving micromobility safety
   Using onboard sensors and user-reported incidents through the Bolt app, the project will evaluate risks faced by scooter and e-bike riders. The goal is to recommend operational changes and redesigns in infrastructure to improve safety.
   
3. Simulating Seville’s transport future
   Researchers will build a detailed transport model to test future infrastructure scenarios — evaluating how new metro lines, trams, and bus rapid transit routes could affect traffic, ridership, and modal split. The simulations will also explore how mobility hubs could better integrate mass transit with micromobility and ride-hailing.
   
4. Assessing benefits and prioritising interventions
   Beyond technical performance, the final phase will assess the broader impacts of proposed transport upgrades — including carbon emissions, accident rates, and economic benefits. This evidence will support public investment decisions and help prioritise high-impact projects.
   

A model for sustainable mobility innovation

This initiative marks the first major project of the Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab, part of the wider Bolt Urban Fund — a social impact programme supporting research, economic empowerment, and community projects in cities across Europe.

The city of Seville is working closely with Bolt and ETH Zurich to shape a transport system that meets the demands of modern life, tourism, and economic growth. With a focus on flexibility and responsiveness, the goal is to improve the daily lives of citizens through data-driven planning and real-world collaboration.

Seville is not just planning for the future — it’s building it with data, partnerships, and a commitment to move the city forward.

Join the movement for better cities

We welcome city leaders to learn more about the Bolt Urban Fund and reach out to the Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab (urbanfund@bolt.eu) to explore how we can work together to create healthier, more connected cities people would love to visit and call home.