Scarborough seeks expansion of Bike Share

City-run rental program should offer docking stations in suburbs, councillor says

Scarborough residents want their fair share of the city’s acclaimed Bike Share program.

At next week’s public works and infrastructure committee meeting, Ward 43 Councillor Paul Ainslie will propose a study for a pilot project setting up Bike Share stations in Scarborough.

“More and more people are trying to get from point A to point B without having to drive or walk,” he said.

The Bike Share program, which is run by the Toronto Parking Authority, currently boasts 270 stations scattered across the city’s downtown core. The program has experienced some incredible success over the past six years, last year breaking records with more than 1.5 million rides by nearly 10,000 users.

Ainslie said there are several suburban hubs that could serve as partners and host bike stations, such as the Scarborough campus of the Uni- versity of Toronto, Centennial College, Go Train stations or even community centres and individual business owners.

Ainslie said the city is already working on increasing bike lanes in the area, including around the zoo.

Sarah Bradley, of advocacy group Cycle Toronto, applauded the Bike Share proposal but argued it should go hand-in-hand with a connected grid of safe-cycling infrastructure.

“We’ve heard from several of our members that the lack of safety on the road is what holds them back from riding more often,” she said.