## BIXI Montreal Expands Year-Round Bike Sharing Network, Cementing Montreal’s Bike City Title
Montrealers, get ready to pedal through the winter! BIXI Montreal, the city’s popular bike-sharing program, is proudly expanding its year-round service, bringing the joy of cycling to more neighborhoods and further reinforcing Montreal’s position as North America’s bike city. Building on the success of its pilot project, BIXI is doubling down on its commitment to sustainable mobility, making it possible to ride a BIXI bike 365 days a year.
More Boroughs, More Bikes, More Opportunity
Starting November 16th, 2024, BIXI’s winter network will expand to 200 stations, served by 2,000 specially adapted BIXI bikes. This expansion will bring the service to a total of 10 boroughs, including Verdun, Côte-des-Neige-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, and Outremont. Joining the seven boroughs that participated in the pilot project last year, these new additions make it easier than ever for Montrealers to embrace winter cycling.
A Network Built for Winter
The year-round BIXI network is strategically located near permanent bicycle networks and Orange and Green Metro Line stations, ensuring convenient access for commuters and leisure riders alike. This network has been carefully crafted to accommodate winter conditions, with stations situated near snow-cleared bicycle paths, making it easy to navigate even when the city is covered in white.
A Commitment to Sustainable Mobility
Christian Vermette, General Manager of BIXI Montreal, emphasizes the program’s commitment to offering Montrealers a reliable mobility solution throughout the year. “The year-round BIXI initiative was all about offering Montrealers a mobility solution 365 days a year, and they’ve been there. This season, our operations can count on a well-oiled system that will exceed expectations for the second year running.”
Marianne Giguère, City Councillor associated with mobility and the bicycle plan, echoes this sentiment. “The City of Montreal is proud to support BIXI in its growing success. Thanks to this accessible and efficient winter offer, we are reinforcing the cycling culture and the adoption of active transportation habits all year round. This 4-season network not only facilitates sustainable travel for Montrealers but also demonstrates that cycling can truly be a daily mode of transportation, even in winter.”
A Proven Success Story
The success of the pilot project, which spanned from November 16th, 2023, to April 14th, 2024, is a testament to the growing popularity of winter cycling in Montreal. During the pilot, over 93,000 people took nearly one million trips on BIXI bikes. A significant portion of those users (65%) were first-time winter cyclists, and a whopping 81% of those surveyed planned to try it again.
BIXI Bikes Built for Winter
To ensure a smooth and comfortable winter cycling experience, BIXI Montreal provides specially adapted bikes for its winter service. The fleet consists of 2,000 mechanical bikes equipped with studded tires for optimal grip on snow and ice, along with non-slip pedals for increased stability. The electric BIXIs, beloved for their ease of use, will be back in the spring.
Keeping the Pedal in Motion
Existing monthly BIXI subscriptions will continue after November 15th, and new subscribers can join the program through monthly subscriptions or one-way tickets. Season passes, however, will expire on November 15th at 11:59 p.m. BIXI memberships can be purchased or canceled at any time in Espace BIXI.
BIXI Montreal extends its gratitude to Loto-Québec for its continued support as the official partner of the year-round BIXI service.
With this expansion, BIXI Montreal is proving that cycling is a sustainable, accessible, and enjoyable way to get around, no matter the season. Montrealers, hop on a BIXI and experience the city from a new perspective, all year long!
