Bixi bikes

Bixi stations in Parc LaFontaine

In 2008 the city of Montreal implemented the Bixi bike system with 3000 bikes at 300 stations, making shared bikes available for short trips within the city. Access is by monthly subscription or a temporary access code paid by credit card at a pay station, before a bike can be removed from a locked rack. The charge is $1.50cdn for the first hour; $3 for thirty minutes more; then $6 for each half-hour beyond ninety minutes.

The payment and docking stations have software that monitors the supply and location of bikes, so managers can restock empty stations, or remove bikes from stations that are full.

The system was adopted in other cities in Canada, the US, Australia and England, but in 2014 the private, non-profit company filed for bankruptcy, in part because some US cities had withheld payment because of problems with the system's software. However, the Bixi program continues to operate in Montreal (and elsewhere) because of its popularity, and because so many people have come to depend on the bikes for regular transportation.

Bikes have to be transported between stations, so that all
locations have bikes available, and open spaces to park returned bikes.

Though I didn't try riding one of the Bixi bikes myself, I'm told they are heavy and clunky. They have large fenders over the rear wheel, bearing advertising for companies that support the system. But the bikes are designed for comfortable, upright riding for short distances in city traffic, and geared low for the hill-climb up from Montreal's city center. And they spare commuters the worry of finding convenient, safe parking, and the risk theft or vandalism of a pricey recreational bike.

All week in Montreal I saw people of all ages and physical types, flocking to and from work at rush hour on Bixi bikes, or their own cruisers, hybrid, road or mountain bikes. During the hot weather I noticed many women wearing gauzy, fluttery, floral print mini-dresses with sandals, ballerina flats, even high-heeled shoes, and I particularly wanted to get photos of women biking to work in nice outfits and cute shoes. I had planned to catch a Friday morning commute to take photos, but unfortunately there was a thunderstorm the night before. The temperature was more comfortable in the morning, but there were puddles on the streets, so instead of pretty summer dresses I saw a lot of sensible shoes with khaki, black or navy blue pants and shorts.

Payment station

Bixi parking in downtown Montreal

I also got some little video clips of bicycle traffic patterns at an intersection of two-way bike lanes on a major street, which would be thrilling to a traffic engineer. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to download the clips to Google Blogger, Facebook, YouTube, or anywhere else, in a playable form. But I have more photos for another post . . . . .