Bixi tests waters with 2 electric-bike pilots in August
Bixi, Montreal’s bicycle-sharing network, will add 57 electrically powered bikes to its fleet in August as part of two pilot projects to determine whether the demand for vehicles merits their being given a full-time role in the service.
The bicycles, which can be rented for the same price as their non-powered counterparts, will be battery-powered and have a maximum speed of 29 km/ h.
If all goes as planned, the bikes will be on the road as soon as Aug. 15, said Bixi Montréal spokesperson Pierre Parent.
Only cyclists over the age of 14 may ride electric bikes, as per Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec regulations.
Riders age 14 to 17 are required to hold at least a valid scooter licence (class 6D), while those above 18 do not need a licence.
All users are obliged to wear a helmet.
The batteries for 40 of the bicycles — which have an operational life of about 100 kilometres — will be manually changed as part of Bixi’s regular maintenance program, Parent said.
Icons on the Bixi mobile app will indicate where the bikes can be found around the service’s network.
Meanwhile, a second project limited to the borough of St-Laurent will offer 17 electric bicycles that recharge in their parking stand.
BIXI’s move to add electric bicycles comes two weeks after the Laval transit authority introduced an electric bike-sharing program.