With record ridership in 2023 and a first winter season with mild temperatures, Bixi plans to increase its prices from March 1 due to inflation and network expansion.
In the future, fans of self-service bikes who like to use them occasionally will have to pay $1.35 ($1.25 in 2023) to unlock their car, then $0.20 per minute or $0.35 US dollars for an electric bike, each US$0.05 per minute more.
So someone who wants to use a Bixi bike for a 15-minute ride will now have to pay $4.35 ($3.50 in 2023) if they use their legs alone, and $6. $60 ($5.75 in 2023) to enjoy the luxury of getting around on an electric bike.
Monthly subscriptions are now $22, down from $20 last year. These subscriptions offer the ability to unlock a bike for free and include 45 minutes of free use for regular bikes, but the user is then charged a fee of $0.17 per minute, which is the equivalent amount for a regular bike or an electric bike corresponds. These fees were previously $0.11 for the regular bike and $0.13 for the electric bike.
As the channel reinstallation begins, we invite you to mark your calendar for April 1st as the Season Pass will be back as a pre-season promotion.
Check out the new rates effective Friday, March 1st: https://t.co/OKX7D8IX0v
— BIXI Montreal (@BIXImontreal) February 27, 2024
To counteract these increases, Bixi is offering the opportunity to purchase an annual subscription for $96 until April 15, which is $3 less than the cost of the subscription in 2023. After this date, the annual subscription will apply, which is the cost covering period April 15th to November 15th, is offered for $107. As with monthly subscriptions, the per-minute price increases to $0.17 for both types of bikes, but the subscription also includes the first 45 minutes free for regular bikes.
Bixi justified its increases by citing the “significant costs associated with its development,” particularly for the addition of new electric bikes to its fleet and new stations. The renewal of equipment and the increase in labor and equipment costs are also noted.
These increases come as Bixi had a record year in 2023 with 576,000 users, a 31% increase compared to 2022, which was already a record year. No fewer than 11.7 million journeys were made on self-service bicycles last year.
The increases at a glance
Occasional travel
Regular Bike – 2023: $1.25 + $0.15 per minute /// 2024: $1.135 + $0.20 per minute
Electric Bike – 2023: $1.25 + $0.30 per minute /// 2024: $1.35 + $0.35 per minute
Subscriptions (first 45 minutes free for mechanical bikes)
Monthly – 2023: $20 + $0.11 or $0.13 per minute depending on bike /// 2024: $22 + $0.17 per minute
Seasonal – 2023: $99 + $0.11 or $0.13 per minute depending on bike /// 2024: $107 + $0.17 per minute