MONTREAL - It may continue to be subject to criticism at home, but the Bixi continues to take on the world.
New York is the next city to adopt Montreal's self-service bicycles.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Wednesday that Alta Bicycle Share, which markets Bixi to the United States and Australia, has been chosen to provide the U.S. metropolis with 10,000 rent-a-bikes as of next spring.
Though he didn't specify the extent of the potential economic benefits for the city, Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay said he believed they would reach several million dollars.
He didn't say whether the windfall would pay off the operating deficit of the Public Bike Service Co., the group managing the Bixi system.
More accurate data will be determined after the contract is finalized and Alta Bicycle Share has found a sponsor, said Roger Plamondon, CEO of Public Bike Service Co.
The economic spinoffs wouldn't end at the sale of the bicycles: New York's call centre is located in Montreal, as is management of sponsorship the services.
Tremblay also said he had not taken steps to sell PBSC's international operations, as recommended by the Department of Municipal Affairs.
He instead announced that the City of Chatanooga, Tenn., has also ordered 300 bicycles, and that London would add 1,600 to 6,000 Bixi already there. The U.S. cities of Minneapolis and Washington, which already use the Bixi system, also bought 500 and 300 additional bikes, respectively.
In May, the City of Montreal voted to give Bixi a $108-million loan package, including a straight $37 million loan to cover its local deficit, and act as guarantor for another $71 million in loans to help Bixi expand further around the world.
