Toronto will double the size of its bike sharing fleet
An agreement with PBSC Urban Solutions will cost $4.9 million dollars to increase the cities bike sharing fleet.
The Toronto Parking Authority has chosen a supplier to beef-up the cities bike sharing system. PBSC Urban Solutions will be supplying 1,000 new bikes and 120 new stations to Toronto. The purchase more than doubles the number of bikes that will be available in the bike share program. The TPA partnered with Metrolinx (previously the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) in July 2015 and committed $4.9 million worth of bikes and docking systems to expand Bike Share Toronto’s network with 20 per cent committed to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
“We had a very thorough and detailed tender process, in search of a company that had the best roadmap for the future of bike share and the best value for our dollar,” said TPA president Lorne Persiko. “PBSC Urban Solutions was hands down the winner, and we look forward to working with them over the next 5 years as we grow the Bike Share Toronto network.”
The city hopes that greater availability will encourage more people to take advantage of the sharing system that began operation in 2011 as Bixi until it was taken over by the TPA in 2013.
PBSC has also been contracted to replace the electronic components currently in use at 81 pay stations and 1500 bike docks in order to properly integrate the new system. PBSC supplies bike share systems to cities around the world including in Montréal, London, New York City, and San Francisco. The company currently has more than 45,000 bikes and 3,500 stations worldwide.
“We are thrilled to be working with the TPA over the next 5 years as they expand Bike Share Toronto,” said Luc Sabbatini, CEO of PBSC. “Bike sharing is a fun, green, and reliable transportation option for residents and visitors to get around in this beautiful city. We look forward to leveraging our unique technology and proven experience to do our part making Toronto’s bike sharing program an even greater success.”
