Public Bike System Company was selected in May 2010 to implement their BIXI public bicycle system.
The system includes 80 stations, 1,000 bikes and 1,500 docking points.
Q. What is bike sharing?
A. Bike sharing provides city residents, workers and visitors with immediate access to public bicycles. Bike sharing operates as an extension of the public transit system rather than a bicycle rental program.
As such, BIXI bicycles are intended to be used for one-way trips of less than 30 minutes. BIXI bikes are picked up from one station and dropped off at another station close to a desired destination. BIXI bicycles are available for use 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.
Regular users purchase either a one-month membership or an annual membership. Registered members receive a BIXI-key which can be used to quickly take out a bicycle at any station in the network. You do not have to be a member to use BIXI. Using a credit card, customers can purchase a 24-hour or 72-hour pass at any of the 80 stations. There are no additional trip fees if the bicycle is returned to a BIXI station within 30 minutes. Extra fees are charged for trips that last longer than 30 minutes.
Q. What is the history behind the BIXI Toronto program?
A. April 17, 2009: City of Toronto issued a Request for Expressions of Interest for a public bicycle program May, 2009: Public Bike System Company (PBSC) submitted a proposal May 16, 2010: Public bicycle project was approved City council July 30, 2010: Launch of a campaign to sign up 1000 annual members October 18, 2010: 1000 members signed up February, 2011: Contract signed between City of Toronto and BIXI Toronto May 3rd, 2011: BIXI Toronto launches
Q. Why does Toronto need bike sharing?
A. Bike sharing is an important part of the city's strategy for increasing the number of trips by bicycle in the downtown core. Bike sharing reduces traffic congestion and air-pollution.
Q. What is the service area for BIXI Toronto?
A. The BIXI service area is between Spadina Avenue to the west, Jarvis Street to the east, Bloor Street to the north and Lake Ontario to the south. There may be potential to expand the system to other areas in the future.
Q. Who is funding the project and who will benefit from the profits?
A. BIXI Toronto Inc. is funding the project with the help of both major and associate sponsors. BIXI Toronto Inc. was created by PBSC to separate the operations of BIXI Toronto from other programs that PBSC operates. In the event of surplus revenues, the surplus would be split 50-50 between the City and PBSC.
Q. Who is the new sponsor for the program?
A. The key sponsors for the program are Telus and Desjardins.
Q. What are the city of Toronto and PBSC’s involvement in the BIXI Toronto project?
A. PBSC will be the main operator of the system for the next 10 years. City of Toronto Transportation Services Division contributes to the success of the program by providing technical support and knowledge of the city’s transportation network.
Q. Why didn’t the City of Toronto roll out the service on its own?
A. The City was interested in a public-private partnership to develop and operate the program.
Q. Why isn’t the number of stations and bicycles higher in a city as big as Toronto? Have plans already been made for a second phase?
A. The timing and the scope of an expansion will depend on City Council approval.
Q. How much does the program cost?
A. A $4.8 million capital investment was required to manufacture and install the public bicycle infrastructure, and for the operation of the program with an estimated $1.3 million average annual operating cost.
Q. Will it be safe to ride throughout the downtown core on these bikes?
A. A feasibility study confirmed that the service was viable for the downtown core. Toronto downtown already has a very high level of bicycle traffic and an expanding bikeway network. PBSC is working closely with the city of Toronto to identify locations for the stations and the City is focusing new cycling infrastructure in the BIXI service area.
Q. How are station locations chosen?
A. Station locations are chosen according to specific criteria. The locations must be close together (approx. 300 m. apart), easily accessible, close to destinations, near transit routes and visible to pedestrians and drivers. More information on locations is available on the toronto.bixi.com website.
Q. What milestones had to be achieved before the BIXI system could be implemented?
A. The following milestones were set by City Council: 1,000 subscription pledges, $600,000 in sponsorship funding each year for three years, 80 approved BIXI station locations, a marketing/communications plan and PBSC obtaining a loan commitment from the City on terms satisfactory to the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
Q. Do other cities have public bike programs?
A. Yes, Toronto is not the only city to have a public bike system. Montreal’s BIXI public bike system opened in May 2009 and has tripled its membership numbers in a year’s time. The public bicycle system in Paris, France (Velib) is one of the largest public bike programs in the world with more than 20,000 bikes in its system. Melbourne, Austraila has a public bike system as do cities in Asia and Europe including London (UK), Barcelona, Seville and Copenhagen. In addition to Montreal, other North American cities who have similar
