MONTREAL - The Bixi bike sharing service has taken the city by a storm but has also hurt some bike shops, some of which are shutting down because of decreased demand.
According to Guillame Fournier, of the Old Montreal Bike shop Montreal on Wheels, the Bixi service has tossed a stick in his business' spokes.
"A lot of tourists use the system and it steals clients from us," said Fournier.
He says that his commerce is down by about a third since the Bixis rolled onto the scene in the spring of 2009.
"The first year we noticed a really big blow. It was pretty hard for some bike shops," he said. "Most of the bike shops that had to close closed at that time."
One large bike store on Belanger is also going belly-up in September but the owner declined to comment as to why.
But another bike rental service said that the Bixis have not hurt her business.
"I like the whole image that Montreal is getting as a cyclist destination is helping improve our business," said Stephanie Thompson of the My Bicyclette bike rental shop.
"The more people are aware of what the price structuring is on Bixi, they're more inclined to rent from a rental shop because it is more economical if you're out for two hours or more to go with a bike rental company versus a Bixi," she said.
And as much as the Bixi has caused some bike shops to grumble, its users remain as enthusiastic as ever.
"You can just grab a bike and go everywhere you want in the city, there is a lot of stations," one rider told CTV Montreal.
