Bixi expanding to 13 Quebec cities, adding over 1,600 bikes

Bixi rental bicycles are pictured Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

The short-term bike rental company Bixi is expanding to 13 cities across Quebec.

The service will open this year in Sherbrooke, Saint-Eustache, Deux-Montagnes and Saint-Lambert.

‘‘We firmly believe that bike sharing is an essential pillar of public transit, and should be everywhere in Quebec,” said Bixi Montreal general manager Christian Vermette. “By expanding and densifying their network, our city partners are responding to the increasing needs of citizens and supporting our ongoing commitment to accessible, ecological and practical transportation for all.‘’

Bixi said it will add more than 1,600 bikes to its fleet in 2025.

It is also tripling the number of stations in Laval and doubling its network in Longueuil.

The entire network of around 12,600 bikes, including 3,200 e-bikes, at over 1,000 stations across Quebec will be open on April 15.

Those who think their city or area could use a Bixi stop can suggest the location online.

Bixi says between November and March, riders used the winterized bikes 27 per cent more than they did the year prior.

‘‘While a historic storm was in full swing this winter, preventing all other modes of surface transportation from circulating, ‘BIXISTS’ carried on using the service, demonstrating just how indispensable Bixi is as a means of transport, in both summer and winter,” Vermette said. “This resilience demonstrates the crucial need for a permanent, flexible and sustainable service, accessible all year round, and everywhere in Quebec.”

City councillor Sophie Mauzerolle said that in its 15 years of operation, Bixi has become an essential part of transport in Montreal.

“Its growing popularity shows that it responds to a clear demand from the population for more alternatives to the car-solo, all year round,” she said.