Bike Sharing: Foreign Experience

Bike Share Toronto Growing by 90 New Stations, 1000 New Bikes

A significant expansion of Toronto’s Bike Share network is underway again this year after 70 new stations were added in 2017. As of today, 71 of 90 new stations have been added in 2018, with the remaining 19 to be in service before the end of August.

$4 million contributions from both the Government of Canada’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) and from the City of Toronto covered all of last year’s expansion, and 75 of this year’s stations, while Metrolinx is contributing another $980,000 in funding for 15 more stations this year. The new stations come with 1,000 new bikes, bringing the count totals up to 360 stations, 3,750 bikes, and 6,200 docking points. The new locations are being placed within easy walking distance from TTC subway stations and stops, with locations as far north as Yonge and Eglinton, and as far east as Victoria Park Avenue.

“Bike sharing is a great option for transit users, whether they’re travelling for work or for play,” reads a statement from Annalise Czerny, Metrolinx’s Executive Vice President of PRESTO. “Metrolinx is pleased to be part of a program that has so many benefits for our customers. This expansion will help more people make connections between transit and their destinations, including the nearly 200,000 GO Train and GO Bus customers who travel through Union Station every day. The Bike Share program has additional benefits for customers who use PRESTO – they receive a 30% discount on their first annual membership.”

Toronto is due to receive a total of $856 million in federal funding through the PTIF, which will also be matched by the City for approximately $1.8 billion in funding to advance public transit and active transportation projects. Toronto Council approved a 10-year Cycling Network Plan in 2016 to grow and improve routes. Bike Share Toronto, operated by the Toronto Parking Authority is a major component of the plan. It now has 13,000 subscribers, and has provided 1,904,798 rides over the last 12 months.

 

Source: http://urbantoronto.ca,
Photo: dandyhorsemagazine.com

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