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BIXI Toronto set to launch in May 2011
BIXI Toronto has met its key targets, though a two week extension to today's sponsorship deadline means that an official announcement has yet to be made. After the bike-sharing program reached 1000 members on October 18, the remaining hurdle for approval from the City of Toronto was the need to secure $600,000 in sponsorship funds (over each of the next three years) by November 30.
With ING already having committed to $450,000, news about the program had gone mostly quiet following the mid-October membership milestone. But, in the absence of a formal announcement prior to today's deadline, a few whispers of concern appeared on the program's Facebook page. I thought it was pretty odd too, so I contacted the City of Toronto and Quebec-based Public Bike System Company in search of confirmation that the targets had been met.
They have -- mostly. Daniel Egan, City of Toronto manager of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, told me over the phone that "BIXI has essentially met all the milestones, but the sponsorship deadline was extended by a couple of weeks to finalize some of the details." That's why there hasn't been a formal announcement -- the program isn't actually officially a go until this happens. But, regardless of this slight extension, Egan confirmed that the May 2011 "launch date remains the same."
So despite how quiet it's been on the BIXI front, members and fans of the program do have something to celebrate, after all.
Photo by Annia V.
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I really do want BIXI to succeed, even though I personally don't need it since I just ride my own bikes everywhere anyway. However, in this form, I don't even see to whom it's going to be useful. The struggle to get 1000 memberships may be indicative of something significant here...
If not, you statement is silly because this is being done as a business and the Toronto government is not subsidizing this at all - rather they are providing a loan!
I still call bullshit on the number of stations considering the population of Toronto.
It's not like Montreal where everything for bikers is safe, at least not yet.
http://news.yourolivebranch.org/2010/11/22/bikesharing-hits-the-streets-of-america/
Ihave to use cases.
1) I work at King and Spadina. I take the streetcar down Spadina but that is slow. I'd rather go from St. Andrew's subway and bike the short distance. TTC Buses are often full/unpredictable (one of those do I walk, or wait decisions).
2) I go to a gym near Lakeshore and at the east end of the Gardner. There are bike paths there. I'd like to be able to bike down the DVP trail, and park the bike and go to gym - and decide if I TTC or bike home after gym. I'd also like to get there after work, and I have to take 2 buses and a subway to do so. I'd eliminate that bus (this presumes Bixi eventually extends to Cawthra/Lakeshore area).