Toronto Bixi Bikeshare

[Tuscani01]

Originally Posted by allurban

Looks like good news from Boston



Imagine, if there were docking stations near Toronto Island Airport and Boston's airport, one could Bixi to the airport, Bixi to the hotel ... well they're not there yet, but it's a remote possibility

Cheers, m

Its too bad one Bixi key doesn't work in another city. It would be nice if you could take your key with you, but pay a small fee to have your membership switched to the city you are visiting for a set time that you select.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Tuscani01

Its too bad one Bixi key doesn't work in another city. It would be nice if you could take your key with you, but pay a small fee to have your membership switched to the city you are visiting for a set time that you select.

It would be great. On the same level as having an international smart card for public transport, or cell phones that Canadians can use overseas (joke, we can do that now ... for a price.)


Cheers, m

[Mollywood]

It seems Bixi is expanding. I just noticed a new Bixi station on Dundas Street, beside the Freshco supermarket, in Regent Park. It's about time Bixi came to Regent Park. I hope it keeps expanding in all directions.

[Filip]

It's not expanding, it's relocating some stations.

They're essentially pussies. I sent them an email saying that if they don't expand within the first year (or basically by next summer), I'm not going to renew my subscription.

They expanded their network TWICE in the first year in Montreal, yet we're showing higher rates of usage/membership and success. As it is, the network is useless for me and the majority of cyclists in the city. Expanding west into the bike-hungry neighbourhoods to Roncesvalles, for example, would do wonders for users. I just got the membership to support them, but if they're not willing to invest further into our market then I see no need to do the same.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Filip

It's not expanding, it's relocating some stations.

They're essentially pussies. I sent them an email saying that if they don't expand within the first year (or basically by next summer), I'm not going to renew my subscription.

Tell the mayor. Bixi is owned by the city and cannot take out a loan with the city authorizing it. The city, under the current mayor, has said they will receive no additional money.

[jje10001]

Relocating some of the stations to better locations is still a good thing.

As for expansion, I don't think Bixi even breaks even at this point. I think that Bixi's taking a more cautious approach in this city at this point. If you want massive expansion, either a private donor or the city will need to pony up the cash. And under Ford, the city probably won't spend money on 'frivolous' things like this.

Originally Posted by Filip

It's not expanding, it's relocating some stations.

They're essentially pussies. I sent them an email saying that if they don't expand within the first year (or basically by next summer), I'm not going to renew my subscription.

They expanded their network TWICE in the first year in Montreal, yet we're showing higher rates of usage/membership and success. As it is, the network is useless for me and the majority of cyclists in the city. Expanding west into the bike-hungry neighbourhoods to Roncesvalles, for example, would do wonders for users. I just got the membership to support them, but if they're not willing to invest further into our market then I see no need to do the same.

[Filip]

Originally Posted by rbt

Tell the mayor. Bixi is owned by the city and cannot take out a loan with the city authorizing it. The city, under the current mayor, has said they will receive no additional money.

Bixi is owned by Public Bike System Company of Montreal, started and backed by their parking authority.

They want a loan from the city, fine, city is not likely to give it to them. Why not hunt for private donations? Corporations are always hungry for this kind of sponsorship as seen by Desjardins and Telus. Now, get more!
The city has said that they will work with Bixi to expand (find suitable locations, etc) but they will not be backing any more loans. I think this is fair. If a Montreal company wants to reap the benefits, then they should seek funding from Montreal (like they already do).

[Taller, Better]

Bingo. Tell Bixi, not the Mayor, and not the City of Toronto. People have been missing the point all along that this is a for-profit organization, which is operating a pretty threadbare service for Toronto, at premium rates.
You want better service? Go to the organ grinder; not the monkey.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Filip

Bixi is owned by Public Bike System Company of Montreal, started and backed by their parking authority.

That is true for everywhere but Toronto.

TorontoBixi is a for-profit corporation independent of the not-for-profit organization out of Montreal and is under the responsibility of the Municipality of Toronto. Many of the people are the same and we license the technology and name from the Montreal not-for-profit; but the books are fully separate.

If you want expansion in New York, talk to the people in Montreal. If you want expansion in Toronto, it's up to Toronto's City Council to authorize additional funding.

[Taller, Better]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...ter-bumpy-ride
Bixi bikes boss quits after bumpy ride

Published On Mon Nov 14 2011

Bixi operates separate organizations in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
Pat Hewitt/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Emily Jackson Staff Reporter

The president of the bike-sharing company Bixi has resigned because he can no longer guarantee that taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the company’s deficits.

Roger Plamondon quit on Friday after five years of involvement with financially flailing Bixi, confirmed company spokesman Michel Philibert.

Bixi operates separate organizations in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

Plamondon left because of money problems at the Montreal branch, for which he blames the Quebec provincial government, he told the CBC.

In Plamondon’s tenure, Bixi racked up a $108 million budget shortfall in Montreal — $37 million for operations and $71 million to expand its business internationally..............................


read all about it:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...ter-bumpy-ride

[Taller, Better]

I was quite alone in this thread in warning about potential problems with using Bixi for our bike share problem, and sure enough problems are arising.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle11274145/


Toronto re-evaluating 10-year bicycle deal with BIXI

Jessica Chin

The Globe and Mail

Published Tuesday, Apr. 16 2013, 3:18 PM EDT

Last updated Tuesday, Apr. 16 2013, 6:52 PM EDT


BIXI Toronto is having financial trouble, and the city is looking for a way to keep the bike-loaning operation going, according to a report by city staff.

The company that owns BIXI Toronto is divesting itself of its franchises, said chair of the city’s Public Works committee Denzil Minnan-Wong in an interview Tuesday.

“It’s looking to get rid of BIXI Toronto,” he said...........

read it here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle11274145/

[MysticMcGoo]

I'm not surprised. I rarely saw people riding BIXI bikes downtown.

[Taller, Better]

I would not be surprised if this was not the last of their woes. I hope the City gets their loan back, or at least some deal to take over the bikes.

[Epi]

Been a BIXI subscriber since it first came to Toronto, and just renewed my membership. I would be sad if it were to go. I'd use it even more if there were stations further away though, the coverage is pretty limited.

[Mollywood]

I agree! I don't use Bixi but I think it's a good thing for Toronto to have and I would hate to see it go. We need to give people more (healthy & green) options, not less. It's a great way to go short distances. We subsidize drivers and public transit, so why not bike infrastructure?

Why should drivers always be the privileged ones? It's funny how in our society, the people who do the most damage to the planet (and human health) are the ones who get preferential treatment. It's a strange world we live in.

[Taller, Better]

Of course we need a bike sharing programme, but I've never thought Bixi was the right way to go. We should have created our own system instead of making them a gigantic loan. They never did install the number of bikes we thought they would.
I'm surprised Kettle hasn't surfaced. He only shows up in this thread!

[Epi]

If Bixi covered the area from High Park to The Beach to St. Clair, man oh man would that ever rock.

[YU-AMC]

I am not sure if I asked already, can I take a bixie bike on a ferry to the central island? Also is there like one time tryout thing or I need fork out for one month membership?

[Filip]

Originally Posted by Epi

Been a BIXI subscriber since it first came to Toronto, and just renewed my membership. I would be sad if it were to go. I'd use it even more if there were stations further away though, the coverage is pretty limited.

Been a subscriber when they came to Toronto, but after my annual membership expired, I did not renew.

When they called me to ask me why, I told them that unless I can bike from my house to downtown using BIXI, to not bother with me.

I assume it's the same with many people. Guaranteed their membership numbers are falling.

[JustinB]

BIXI would be a good candidate for a Metrolinx quick win.

I personally have never used Bixi, I live just outside the downtown core, and it's really of no use to me. It's been said many times already, so I am just adding to the chorus. Expand Bixi. The area is too limited to of much use to anyone outside downtown.

That being said, the attitude towards providing $1.2 Million towards Bixi is puzzling. It's not a lot of money considering how much money was wasted removing bike lanes, and covering up the Gardiner EA.