Montreal
Highlights
- Create a state-of-the-art modular and solar-powered bike-sharing system from a clean slate (adapted to Montreal’s rigorous weather; that allows the system and its components to be stocked for the winter season).
- Communicate to the population the purpose and the functioning of a bike-sharing system, Montreal’s BIXI being the first large-scale system in North America to be launched.
In 2007, the City of Montreal was looking for durable and concrete solutions to reduce negative effects on the environment and our dependency to cars. Consequently, the City of Montreal transport plan focused on the importance of active modes of transportation such as bike-sharing systems. The mandate was originally given to Stationnement de Montréal, the company which regulates parking operations in Montreal. Stationnement de Montréal then created the Public Bike System Company which became PBSC Urban Solutions in 2011.
PBSC Urban Solutions offers an easy and beneficial alternative urban transport mode in Montreal and now around the world with its BIXI system. It has been conceived with the perfect mixture between design, innovation and technology, reflecting a coherent and harmonious ensemble. It is calling upon the latest developments in the field of renewable energy.
Bike-sharing system’s characteristics
- System Name: BIXI
- Launch Date: May 12, 2009
- Number of Stations: 411
- Number of Bikes: 5,120
- Website: https://montreal.bixi.com/
- Easy and quick to install or dismantle
- All components can be easily transported with no impact on the environment or the station's urban surroundings
- A technical platform can be set up within a matter of minutes
- Easy to expand
- Modular technical platforms (Plug and Play) are dropped off and plugged together
- “Drop and Go” platforms are infinitely expandable
- Solar-powered pay station
- Environmentally-friendly
- RFID wireless real-time connection payment
- No excavation required
- Modular technical platforms are portable, and energy self-sufficient
- Require no preparatory work
- Simple to use
- Users can rent bikes or return them at any station
- Users can consult the Website to find the nearest station to them and/or their destination
- Users can find out in real time the number of bikes and docks available at any station
- Users can notify the system at a bike dock of any damaged or defective bike, and choose another one quickly and easily
Three patents for bicycle innovations
- 1 patent for the modular system
- 1 patent for the solar-powered operating system
- 1 patent for the locking mechanisms (anti-theft mechanism)
BIXI’s key to success:
- Design created by Michel Dallaire, an internationally renowned industrial designer
- Bikes by Cycle Devinci, a company manufacturing high-end bikes since 1987
- Award-winning software from 8D Technologies
- Implementation communication strategy elaborated by Morrow Communications
- The BIXI Montreal system has been successful since its implementation on May 12, 2009. The constant increase in the demand from Montreal’s citizens and boroughs led to an early installation of the second phase. This phase was originally planned for the second year, but was operational at the end of summer 2009. This second phase raised the number of stations to 400 and the number of bikes to 5,000. The city of Westmount bought 5 stations and 50 bikes in 2011 and the city of Longueuil bought 6 stations and 70 bikes in 2012 for a total of 411 stations and 5120 bikes. Moreover, it covered 8 different boroughs around Montreal and two cities.
Statistics
- Launched on May 12, 2009 with 300 stations and 3,000 bikes
- Phase 2: On August 30, 2009 bringing the system to 400 stations and 5,000 bikes
- 3,436,805 trips made during the second season, a 290% increase compared to season 2009
- 29,758 active members at the end of 2010 season, a 276% increase compared to season 2009
- Territory: 82 km2