MONTREAL—With direct funding from the City of Montreal, a first for BIXI, over 50 new docking stations will be added as the public bike-sharing system continues to slowly spread to new neighbourhoods and cities.
On Monday, the BIXI system opened for its fifth season. With 5,120 BIXI bikes ready to roll, a number of new docking stations have been unveiled in Westmount and Longueuil.
A new smartphone app from Public Bike System Company is at the centre of a reenergized customer service pitch from the people who run BIXI.
The system will also see changes in 2013 as the maximum amount of time a bike can be borrowed has been increased to 45 minutes, from 30 minutes in previous years. A $250 hold on the credit cards of occasional users has also been waived.
Financial problems continue to plague the service. While the system was supposed to turn an $11 million surplus by this time, last year it ran a $3.3 million loss. The City of Montreal has loaned BIXI money which the service is repaying, with interest. The city remains committed to the service.
“What we will be guaranteeing in the future after the sale of BIXI that deficits from the service in Montreal will be covered by the city of Montreal,” said Mayor Michael Applebaum. “We feel this is a service to citizens that reduces greenhouse gases and encourages a healthier lifestyle.”
Despite some hardship, the system has proven popular internationally as franchises have started in Toronto, London, New York and a number of other cities. The service has been forced to sell of its international arm by the Quebec government, leading to plans for BIXI Montreal to be absorbed by the municipal government.
The service had 49,000 members in Montreal last year.
