Readers of this site know that bicycles are great and that we like bike sharing programs, well, now it’s Toronto’s turn to get on the Bixi bandwagon. We’ve looked at Bixi before when they opened in Montreal.
The city of Toronto will approve Bixi to open next year in Toronto IF they an get 1,000 members before this November. If you are free tonight you can sign up for a Bixi membership at the Bixi Bash.
Here’s info on Bixi from the Toronto Star
“It’s pretty inexpensive, even if you’re just going to use it once a week,†said Daniel Egan, the city’s manager of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. “There are a number of milestones we need to achieve by the end of November in order to launch this for next year. And one of those is to sign up 1,000 members. It’s really to protect the city and the (BIXI) company from financial risk — to know there’s a demand for this.â€
The city will also need to secure $600,000 in corporate sponsors and locate appropriate docking sites. Both are well underway, says Egan.
“Quite frankly I think our biggest challenge will be the demand for more bikes once this program launches,†said Egan.
The ruggedly designed bikes are adjustable and designed to fit all body types. The wheels generate electricity to power the fixed-on lights.
Ooooo, I really do miss those yellow BikeShare bikes with the quirky names though: Easy Rider, etc. Bixi would have a new place in my heart!