Toronto Poised for Major Bike-Share Expansion

700 new bikes at 70 new stations.

(Photo by Jason Paris)

This is your first of three free stories this month. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks.

Become A Member

Toronto’s bike share system is getting a major upgrade.

This month, Bike Share Toronto is expanding its infrastructure with 70 new pick-up and drop-off stations (for a total of about 270) the Toronto Star reports. The locations were chosen with proximity to subway stations and streetcar stops in mind, and will stretch from Marine Parade Drive on the waterfront to Victoria Park Avenue. The city and the federal government have announced that they’ll each be contributing $1.25 million toward 50 of the stations. The city plans to foot the $1.5 million bill for the rest.

From the paper:

It’s a remarkable comeback for a system that launched as Montreal export BIXI in 2011 but struggled financially with a small downtown network until it was rebranded as Bike Share Toronto under control of city-owned Toronto Parking Authority.

Last year the Ontario government contributed $4.9 million to double the network with 80 new stations and 800 new bikes.

Expansion seems to have paid off. The system recorded its highest-ever daily ridership — 6,490 — on June 21 and has grown to 9,500 active members. They took more than 1.1 million trips in the past year and have pedaled more than 16.8 million kilometres [10.4 million miles] since the service first launched.

Those growing numbers of riders are also able to benefit from a growing network of bike lanes — and an officer dedicated to keeping them clear and car-free. As Josh Cohen wrote for Next City in June, officer Kyle Ashley “spends half his day bicycling around Toronto doling out $150 tickets to bike lane blockers and much of the rest of the day doing outreach and education about the problem through social media and in person.”

Like what you’re reading? Get a browser notification whenever we post a new story. You’re signed-up for browser notifications of new stories. No longer want to be notified? Unsubscribe.

Rachel Dovey is an award-winning freelance writer and former USC Annenberg fellow living at the northern tip of California’s Bay Area. She writes about infrastructure, water and climate change and has been published by Bust, Wired, Paste, SF Weekly, the East Bay Express and the North Bay Bohemian

Follow Rachel .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tags: bike-sharetoronto

×
Next City App Never Miss A StoryDownload our app ×
×

You've reached your monthly limit of three free stories.

This is not a paywall. Become a free or sustaining member to continue reading.

  • Read unlimited stories each month
  • Our email newsletter
  • Webinars and ebooks in one click
  • Our Solutions of the Year magazine
  • Support solutions journalism and preserve access to all readers who work to liberate cities

Join 1108 other sustainers such as:

  • William in Washington, DC at $10/Month
  • Peter at $5/Month
  • Pilar in Lehigh Acres, FL at $5/Month

Already a member? Log in here. U.S. donations are tax-deductible minus the value of thank-you gifts. Questions? Learn more about our membership options.

or pay by credit card:

All members are automatically signed-up to our email newsletter. You can unsubscribe with one-click at any time.

  • Donate $20 or $5/Month

    20th Anniversary Solutions of the Year magazine

has donated ! Thank you 🎉
Donate
×