BIXI is preparing to face its first winter, a first in Montreal. The 150 stations that will remain will mainly revolve around the Express Bike Network (REV) and snow-cleared cycle paths. But users beware: the season pass will no longer be available.
Around the REV
In a press release announcing the start of the “countdown” before the winter season in five weeks, BIXI Montreal confirmed Thursday that its pilot zone “has been strategically planned around the REV and the cycling network maintained all year round, particularly near the train stations. metro of the orange and green lines”. This will allow “to use BIXI as an additional ingredient in its transport cocktail”, affirms the group, specifying that the locations of the stations will be mainly “off the street”, so as not to hinder the public domain already in place as well as the snow removal activities of the City of Montreal.
150 stations, 1500 bikes
BIXI Montreal announced last April its desire to attempt for the first time in its history to deliver the service year-round. Around 150 of the 850 stations will be available after November 15, in seven boroughs. Some 1,500 regular bicycles will be available, but no electric cars will be on the road. They will all be equipped with knobby tires and non-slip pedals. A map of the stations was also published this Thursday on the BIXI website. The area will ultimately make a total of 150 km2 in seven boroughs, namely Sud-Ouest, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Ville-Marie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Exit the season pass
In the coming years, an “annual” subscription to BIXI, including winter use, could be made available, but not right away. For now, users who brave winter will have to choose between a monthly subscription, at $20 plus taxes for 30 days, or a one-way ticket, which costs $1.25 plus taxes. You will have to wait for the return of spring and the BIXI summer season, on April 15, to be able to purchase a seasonal subscription again. The rates established for 2023 will also theoretically remain in force until December 31, after which changes could occur. In other words, prices could be expected to change during the winter season.
10-13% retention
In September, during an interview with The Press, BIXI’s marketing director, Pierre-Luc Marier, mentioned that BIXI expects more modest ridership than in summer, but hopes to perform well due to the ease of its bike-sharing system already well anchored in the community. “We are talking about a retention of 10 to 13% of cyclists during the winter. That gives you an idea of the potential. But we arrive with an offer where people do not need to degrease the chain, clean the bike, change the tires,” Mr. Marier illustrated. “I think we risk having a nice surprise,” argued the general director of BIXI, Christian Vermette.
A crucial moment
This will be a crucial moment for BIXI this winter, not only to consolidate the user base, but also for its reputation in Quebec and Canada. “We have five more months to find more trips, especially in November and December when there is not yet too much snow. For us, it’s a great opportunity. We are coming to raise the growth ceiling,” Mr. Marier recently illustrated. According to Christian Vermette, “what stresses the teams the most is snow removal”. “We are going to have a connection with the City on this side, but it is sure that it is new. If we want to be recognized and not labeled as the system which is just pleasant in the summer, we must be able to be there for 12 months,” argued the CEO.