Yo-Go : A Lime bike with four wheels and a roof
January 29, 2025
Central London's average traffic speed is just 7mph, and it gets slower by the year. Perhaps it's one reasons why young people are turning away from conventional cars in favour of alternatives like Lime bikes and other e-bike rental schemes. Across the UK, there are now 40 urban pedal and e-bike rental schemes, offering a tantalising glimpse of a car-lite future.
Into this shifting landscape steps Yo-Go, a fresh take on urban mobility that’s already turning heads in its current pilot phase.
Most cars are not suited to city life. London’s narrow streets are clogged with traffic, and yet 70% of car journeys in the capital are less than three miles. This is a staggering statistic that underscores the inefficiency of cars in urban settings. While some drivers cling to their vehicles, others are increasingly turning to more practical, sustainable modes of transport.
Yo-Go taps into this trend by offering a new kind of electric four-wheeler - one that’s perfectly suited for city life. It’s essentially a yellow golf buggy fitted with seat belts, but in terms of city mobility, it’s a Lime bike with four wheels.
With a top speed of 20mph and a compact design that fits into parking spaces end-on, the Yo-Go buggy is a nimble, convenient alternative for short urban trips. Just like Lime bikes, the cheerful little buggies are unlocked with an app and use is charged by the minute.
![Young woman riding Lime bike near Piccadilly Circus in central London](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/640ee4b2979c11d46a70fafa/6799f8d5e9b5baec54fcf9c5_6799f8541a68e74683cec785_iStock-2169498379-ezgif.com-optijpeg.jpeg)
Perfect for 20mph zones
As more city centres impose 20mph speed limits, the Yo-Go buggy feels like a vehicle made for the moment. Unlike traditional cars, which are often too large, too fast, and too dangerous for pedestrian-heavy areas, the Yo-Go is lightweight and slow - two features that means it poses less of a threat in collisions with cyclists or pedestrians, helping to make streets friendlier and more accessible in the process.
Sam Bailey and Matthew Boulton, the entrepreneurs behind Yo-Go, understand the pressing need to rethink urban transport. Long-time residents of Hammersmith & Fulham, one of London’s most congested boroughs, they’ve seen first-hand the toll that car dependency takes on city life. For the past two years, they’ve been driving their own buggies and now aim to share this experience with their neighbours.
Young people, in particular, seem primed to embrace the Yo-Go. This demographic has already demonstrated a willingness to ditch car ownership in favour of alternatives like public transport, walking, cycling, and e-bike schemes. For those who might hesitate to hop on a Lime bike - perhaps because of physical limitations or bad weather - the Yo-Go buggy offers a fun, accessible alternative.
The shift away from traditional cars is also driven by a broader cultural change. For many young urbanites, cars no longer represent freedom or status but rather an outdated burden. Yo-Go’s pay-as-you-go model fits seamlessly into this new mindset, offering flexibility without the costs and responsibilities of ownership.
Yo-Go’s pilot scheme has launched in Hammersmith & Fulham, with ten buggies available to hire across four locations. The process is straightforward: if you’ve held a UK or EU driving licence for at least two years and are aged 25 to 70, you simply download the app, register your details, and upload your licence information. Once activated, you’re ready to go.
Bailey and Boulton’s vision extends far beyond Hammersmith & Fulham. They aim to expand Yo-Go nationwide, helping to transform how we move around towns and cities.
Kei cars
Kei cars, the pint-sized, fuel-efficient vehicles that dominate Japan’s streets, are a rarity on UK roads despite their potential to transform urban mobility. Designed to navigate Japan’s busy cities and stringent emissions regulations, these clever, compact cars offer low running costs and an environmentally friendly alternative to larger vehicles.
![kei class Daihatsu mini van in car park](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/640ee4b2979c11d46a70fafa/679908cfa9492d2ac102c87e_67990867c7af948e645f47df_iStock-934803242-ezgif.com-optijpeg.jpeg)
However, manufacturers have been reluctant to import them to the UK due to slim profit margins. Kei cars thrive in Japan thanks to tax and insurance incentives, but the lack of similar policies in the UK, coupled with the cost of adapting them to European regulatory standards, makes them less viable. Instead, manufacturers prioritise larger vehicles like SUVs, which offer far higher profit margins. This reluctance, combined with a road culture that equates bigger with better, leaves kei cars side-lined -a missed opportunity that hopefully Y-Go can capitalise on.
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Information correct at time of publication.