Uklon and Bolt see rising taxi demand in Kyiv during prolonged air raid alerts as active driver numbers fall

Taxi ride demand in Kyiv has been rising during prolonged air raid alerts, according to ride-hailing app Bolt. The app reports an average increase of 30-50% compared to normal levels, with demand in high-traffic areas potentially surging by over 100%. This surge leads to situations where the number of customers requesting rides exceeds the available drivers.

Uklon, another ride-hailing company, has also seen a drop in the number of drivers able to accept rides during alerts, citing safety risks, malfunctioning GPS, or difficult traffic conditions. Despite this, Uklon notes that the number of completed rides during peak alert periods may decline somewhat. To balance supply and demand, both companies rely on dynamic pricing algorithms that adjust prices to attract more drivers.

Bolt uses dynamic pricing within specific districts rather than city-wide to keep drivers online during high-demand periods. The longer the alert lasts, the more drivers can shrink, leading to higher ride costs in certain districts. Prices for rides in different locations and ride categories can vary depending on the alert's duration and severity, but return to normal once supply and demand balance is restored.

Both Uklon and Bolt have seen an increase in their monthly active digital user count compared to the previous year, with Uklon reaching 5.2 million users, including services like ride-hailing, delivery, advertising, marketplace, and bus ticket purchasing. Bolt provides shared mobility services in over 50 countries across Europe and Africa.