Bixi in Montreal by Adam Fagen
Torontonians and Toronto visitors will have the opportunity to use bikes instead of public transportation since a special bike sharing program is launching in Toronto. The BIXI bike-sharing program will offer 1,000 bikes for rent at 80 locations across the city.
After paying a fee of $95 a year, $40 per month, or $5 per day, you will be able to ride one of the bikes without any additional fees, as long as your ride takes less than 30 minutes. It is similar to auto-share programs; however, one of the BIXI bike-sharing program´s main aims is to support public transportation, mainly by short, up-to-30-minute rides. Those rides taking between 30 and 60 minutes will cost an additional $1.50, and rides taking between 60 and 90 minutes will cost an additional $3.
Most of the stations are situated in the downtown core, but the program might expand to other parts of the city if there is demand. Similar BIXI bike-sharing programs are already operating in Montreal and Washington, and one is also starting in Ottawa later this year.