Bixi Toronto Under New Management, Now Called “Bike Share Toronto” April 1, 2014
March 31, 2014 – Toronto – The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) today announced that effective April 1, 2014 Alta Bicycle Share will take over the operation of Bike Share Toronto from the Public Bike Share Company (PBSC).
“We’re committed to making bike share in Toronto a success,” said TPA President Lorne Persiko. “Our objective as a global leader in parking services is to connect people and places by providing a parking experience that is second to none. We want to provide users of Bike Share Toronto the same high-level experience and hope to become a global leader in bike sharing.”
The new name comes with a fresh start for Toronto’s bike share system. The selection of Alta Bicycle Share, Inc., will ensure a seamless operation of the bike share system with 80 stations and 1,000 bikes. The change in management is intended to result in a more reliable system led by Alta, an operator that has successfully managed large scale urban bike share programs in New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, San Francisco, and several others. This year, Fast Company Magazine named Alta one of the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies in the world.
“We are pleased that the bike share program will continue to operate in our city,” said Toronto City Councillor and bike share supporter Denzil Minnan-Wong. “A vibrant city like Toronto needs bike sharing to be one of its transportation options and the Toronto Parking Authority, with its track record of running an excellent business, is best placed to make it work.”
“Bike sharing is a popular way to get around in Toronto,” said Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly. “I’m sure Torontonians, tourists, and businesses will benefit from the efforts of all involved to give it a fresh new start.”
In addition to the name change to “Bike Share Toronto,” the TPA will be making some adjustments to the program, including a change to the price of Long-Term and Short-Term Membership. Starting in April, Long-Term Memberships will be reduced from $95 to $90 per year for Annual Membership and $40 to $18 per month for Monthly Membership. Short-Term Membership will increase slightly from $12 to $15 for 72-Hour Passes and $5 to $7 for 24-Hour Passes. They will also begin offering Corporate Memberships, which allow local businesses and organizations to offer reduced or subsidized Memberships to their employees.
"The City of Toronto is always looking for ways to improve Toronto’s transportation system,” said Stephen Buckley, General Manger of Toronto Transportation Services. “We are pleased that bike sharing will remain a viable option for Toronto residents.”
The TPA and Alta encourage current members to email customerservice@bikesharetoronto.com with any feedback or comments, and to note that, beginning April 1, they can find the bike share program online at BikeShareToronto.com. Customer service representatives can be reached 24/7 at the new number 855.898.2378.
About the TPA:
The Toronto Parking Authority is a self-sustaining public corporation owned by the City of Toronto. It contributes significant revenues to the City’s general reserves while successfully meeting its mandate to provide safe, attractive, conveniently located and competitively priced off and on-street public parking, required by commercial strips and neighbouring residential areas to survive. Recognized as a world leader in parking technology services the Parking Authority has been successful in ensuring that businesses in these areas continue to grow and the neighbourhoods remain vibrant.
About Alta Bicycle Share:
Bike Share Toronto is operated by Alta Bicycle Share based in Portland, Oregon. Alta currently operates Capital Bikeshare in Washington DC, Arlington and Alexandria, VA and Montgomery County, MD; Hubway in the Boston-Metro region; Melbourne Bike Share in Melbourne, Australia, Bike Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN; Citi Bike in New York City; Divvy in Chicago; CoGo in Columbus, OH; and Bay Area Bike Share in the Bay Area, CA.
TPA Contact:
Marie Casista
VP Real Estate, Development & Marketing, TPA
Direct: (416) 393-7295
Alta Contact:
Scott Hancock
General Manager, Bike Share Toronto
Direct: (416) 853-7765