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Bixi Toronto taken over by City of Toronto

Bixi Toronto has a secure future, thanks to the work of the City of Toronto council. Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong has helped spearhead deals that will see the city take over the bike-share program, while paying off the debt incurred by Bixi without using taxpayer’s dollars.

The City of Toronto Parking Authority will take over operation of the Bixi program in the spring. Additionally, the City will seek out corporate sponsors for the program, in exchange for naming rights.

“This is a real win, win, win,” said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong to the CBC. “This solution demonstrates there are alternatives to having government write a cheque every time a good idea doesn’t work out as planned.”

The program presently holds a debt of $4 million, with the city as the guarantor. To prevent taxpayers from being left on the hook, council has made an agreement with Astral Media. The advertising company had committed $5 million to build automated public toilets in the city, and has been freed from that obligation in exchange for diverting the funds to pay off the Bixi debt, and cover the transfer of operation to the parking authority.

“We’re pleased to see the City laying the groundwork for the success of our public bike sharing system and congratulate members of City Council and City staff for their hard work,” said Jared Kolb, Executive Director of Cycle Toronto. “Public bike sharing systems like BIXI Toronto are an important part of our transit system. They fill the gap between trips too close for transit, but too far to walk.”

Earlier this year, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam worked with private real estate developers to secure addition funding directed to Bixi, proving a new model for funding expansion of the system.

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