BIXI self-service bikes, even more popular in Montreal, are not immune to inflation and will be more expensive to rent in the 2023 season.
• Also read: The extension of the Montreal Metro’s blue line is attracting real estate developers
• Also read: The STM plans to reduce its spending by $18 million in 2023
All tariffs will be increased by about 7 or 8% starting this spring.
A season pass valid from April 15 through November 15 is now $99 before tax, an increase of $7 compared to 2022.
Montrealers can save a little by pre-paying on their subscription. The latter costs $89 before taxes if purchased before April 15. This is still an increase of $6 since last cycling season.
The monthly subscription is $20 pre-tax for 30 days instead of $19.
Using an electric bike on the site costs 13 cents per minute of use instead of 12 cents. That’s an 8.3% increase, according to the city.
The Plante administration approved this rate change during last Wednesday’s Executive Committee meeting.
Photo archive, Agency QMI
search for income
“Tariffs have generally been revised upwards to better reflect the operating costs of the system and to help address the challenges of supply, innovation and the significant increase in parts costs in the context of the pandemic,” the filing said.
Most of the parts used on the bikes come from Asia, where factories struggle to keep up with international demand.
“A reasonable increase in rates, coupled with a projected increase in ridership of 17% for electric bikes and 8% for regular bikes in 2023, will generate adequate revenue to maintain service levels,” he said.
BIXI Montréal expects revenue from occupancy of $19.4 million in 2023, a 24% increase from 2022.