BIXI Toronto bike-sharing: How it works

Since BIXI Toronto launched on May 2, I've been asked by heaps of people on the street how the service works. And because Oprah tells me "life is better when you shaaaaaaaaare it" I whipped together this quick 'how-to' vid.

NOTE: BIXI Toronto did not ask or pay me to produce this segment. I did it out of my genuine appreciation of the program.

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[d0fuz]

hello, so if i bike to another statio within the 30 mins. Wait for the 5 mins, do I use the same code, or do i use the CC to get another bike for free?

[becauserysaidso]

@d0fuz You put your credit card in the machine again, it recognizes that you've already signed up for an access pass, and issues you a new code. The codes are only valid for a few mins after they are issued.

[JDubs878]

I like the concept but:

1) How do they prevent vandalism of the bikes and bike station?

2) How do they prevent the bikes from rusting out from the rain and snow? Or are the bikes taken off the streets during winters?

3) Don't you have to redistribute the bikes from station to station? Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of going green?

4) Can you bike it to another station within the 30mins and then park it and immediately takeout another bike and use it for another 30mins for free again?

[becauserysaidso]

@JDubs878 Hey, thanks for the comment. I guess you can't really prevent vandalism - it's just part of it. I'm not sure what BIXI Toronto's plan is for the winter, but I know that in Montreal they remove and store everything during winter. BIXI has a street team that redistributes bikes throughout the day and overnight. Fair question about going green - I'm not sure if that's their main objective? And you can take another bike out 2minutes after returning one.

[spirosvondas]

thanks for this video, still a little confused regarding the payment. if i grab a bike for 24 hours for 5 dollars, is it an accumulating cost if i take it for 30 minutes and drop it off (which is free) and then after a couple of hours, take another one and drop it off for 30 minutes...is it still free or does that count as a hour?

[becauserysaidso]

@spirosvondas The $5 is for the whole 24-hour period. You only pay that once. You can take/return as many bikes as you like in the 24 hours. The only thing to note is that once you return a bike to a rack, you have to wait a few minutes before taking another one out.

[addnamehere]

It's Ryan from 1g5g!

[finnsia]

@mattmax11 nope

[mattmax11]

@JogBird fuckoff Ford is do a great job

[0ct0ct09]

Riding bikes on sidewalk is illegal. It`s call a sidewalk for a reason. Sidewalk are meant for walking. If you want to ride a bike, take it to the road.Bicycle are subject to the same laws as cars in most cities. How many times have you walk down a sidewalk and a cyclist comes rolling down the sidewalk and expect you to give him the right of ways?? Know the laws in you area cyclist.



[againstme2]

@JogBird That's not true! You can't eat a bike.

[JogBird]

Toronto isnt ready for Bixi yet... we have a fatass mayor wouldnt know a bike from a horse.

[sabbirsa]

Cntd.. I love biking a lot. I was thrilled to see bixi bikes being installed but I am so scared to ride them b/c there is no safety for bikers. they are sharing the downtown with crazy motorists who can push bikers anytime. I hope in the future they do build separated bike lanes like Montreal, Amsterdam and many other cities. Its a shame that such an important city like toronto are far far behind when it comes to modernization.

[sabbirsa]

One of the worst thing about the city of toronto is its lack of accommodation for bikers. I had the opportunity to ride Bixi in Montreal and it was a fantastic experience. Why? because they have completely separated 2 way bike lanes where no car can go. I biked and biked away until i realized that I have to return it or otherwise they will continue to charge me. Now when it comes o toronto there are no separated lanes and the places where these bikes have been installed are crazy.