Bixi launches season with new deals to choose from
Bixi launched its season at noon on Tuesday — five days earlier than scheduled.
The early start — despite wintry temperatures — was among improvements announced at a news conference on the start of the bike-sharing service’s 10th year of operation.
They include special deals for students and seniors, who will be able to rent a bike for 30 minutes or less for $2, on presentation of an Opus card with a photo.
Mayor Valérie Plante took part in the launch, with Elaine Farley, chairperson of Bixi Montréal and its director, Christian Vermette.
“Bixi is deeply embedded in our DNA,” Plante said, hailing its pioneering role in promoting the bikesharing concept around the world.
With 6,250 bicycles available at 540 stations, Bixi is also offering a new deal to its offerings: 10 trips for $25.
Again this year, Bixi and its sponsor Manulife will offer six free Sundays: May 27, June 24, July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 30 and Oct. 28.
The service is also introducing the Bixi-Remorque: two tricycles that will tow bikes to Bixi stations where they are needed. Until now it has relied entirely on trucks to do so.
And it is studying the possibility of introducing electric bikes, particularly in areas far from downtown, as well as evaluating whether it might be feasible over the long term to rent out winter bikes.
Vermette noted that Bixi had a record year in 2017, with more than 258,000 riders, 4.8 million trips made and a satisfaction level of 94 per cent, according to a survey of users. Ridership increased by 144 per cent from 2014 to 2017.
Bixi made more than half-a-million sales transactions in 2017 — a 217-per-cent increase over 2014.
Also last summer, Bixi set a oneday record of 41,728 trips on July 30, when bikes were offered free.