Shared transport – from car clubs and lift-sharing to e-bikes and e-scooters – has the potential to radically reshape the UK’s transport system, reducing emissions, freeing up urban space, and making travel more affordable and equitable. But without urgent action on policy and regulation, the UK risks missing this opportunity, warns Richard Dilks, Chief Executive of Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMo UK).
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Speaking to CIHT’s Transport Talks podcast, Dilks explained how shared transport is already widely used but not yet properly recognised in national policy.
“We now have millions of users of these services across the country every year,” he said. “But that usage profile is not matched at all in terms of policy facilitation, stakeholder awareness, and even general awareness. There’s a lot of catching up to do.”
Car clubs have been part of the UK mobility landscape for 25 years. Today, there are around 6,000 shared cars and vans in operation, used by hundreds of thousands of people. Unlike privately owned cars – which sit idle for much of the time – car club vehicles are intensively used and highly efficient.
CoMo UK’s research shows that each shared car can replace 20 or more privately owned vehicles. Collectively, the space freed up by car clubs is equivalent to the entire area of Hyde Park in London.
“One shared car can serve hundreds of members, reduce car ownership, cut mileage, and support public and active transport,” Dilks said. “It’s a radically different model to private ownership – far more efficient and with multiple co-benefits.”
While car clubs are most common in urban and suburban areas, Dilks stressed that they also have potential in less dense regions. For example, local authorities, NHS trusts, and employers have successfully combined car clubs with staff fleets, offering vehicles to residents outside working hours.
He also pointed to demand-responsive buses as part of the solution for rural mobility, supported by government funding and local pilots:
“There are some real success stories emerging, but on-demand buses won’t ride to the rescue single-handedly. Rural areas need a package of solutions – from car clubs and lift-sharing to community-led schemes – all supported by the right policy environment.”
One of the fastest-growing trends in shared transport is the surge in e-bike usage. In just five years, shared bike fleets have flipped from being dominated by pedal cycles to being mostly electric.
“E-bikes flatten out hills, extend journey ranges, and make cycling accessible to more people,” Dilks explained. “They’ve been a quiet revolution and a real success story.”
By contrast, shared e-scooters remain stuck in legal limbo. They are currently only allowed under trial schemes in 21 locations, all of which are due to expire in 2026.
“We are desperately in need of legislation,” Dilks said. “Not just to legalise e-scooters, but to create a new vehicle class for low-power, zero-emission mobility. Without this, the UK will continue to fall behind countries like Germany, France, and Spain.”
Shared mobility can also play a key role in the transition to electric vehicles. Around one-third of the car club fleet is already electric, compared with around 4% of the wider UK car fleet.
However, he warned that rising costs for operators threaten progress. “For the first time, EV penetration in car clubs has fallen slightly. Without targeted support, there’s a risk this positive trend could reverse.”
Despite the proven benefits of shared transport – from freeing up space and reducing congestion to enabling healthier, lower-carbon travel – the sector is still not embedded in national or local policy frameworks.
“Transport remains a very siloed sector,” Dilks noted. “Authorities often don’t think holistically about how car clubs, bike share, on-demand buses and public transport can complement each other. Yet the evidence is clear: shared and decarbonisation go hand in glove.”
CoMo UK’s modelling suggests that scaling up shared transport could remove 1.6 million cars from UK roads, reduce annual car mileage by 1.8 billion kilometres, and cut megatonnes of carbon emissions.
“People are voting with their feet – usage is at an all-time high,” Dilks said. “But without stronger policy support and long-term certainty, we won’t fully unlock the benefits for people, places and the planet.”
Shared mobility is no longer a niche experiment – it is already a vital part of the UK transport mix. But to deliver its full potential for decarbonisation, equity, and better places, government and local authorities must move faster on legislation, funding, and integration.
As Dilks concluded: “We’ve got loads of positives, but still a long way to go. Shared transport is about giving people better options, improving quality of life, and making our transport system fit for the future.”
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