Vancouver’s bike share program could be hitting a rough patch.
The city has approved spending six million dollars to set up bike rental stations in downtown Vancouver by early next year, however, Bixi – the company providing the bikes – has run into financial problems.
It’s believed to be on the verge of bankruptcy. That is leading to concerns that Bixi won’t be able to deliver bikes for Vancouver.
Both Toronto and Montreal, who also use the company Bixi for their bike share programs, are now creating backup plans for their cities.
READ: 8 things to know about Vancouver’s bike share proposal.
NPA city councillor George Affleck is now asking the City of Vancouver to immediately stop any further development of this program until a detailed review of the viability of the program can be assessed.
“I have questioned from day one why the City of Vancouver is getting involved in such a risky business venture,” says Affleck. “But my Vision Vancouver colleagues on Council have been blinded by their green agenda and are now putting taxpayers of this city on the hook for millions of dollars in costs.”
The bike share program was approved in July.
There will be 1,500 bikes set up at 125 stations in the Downtown core all the way up to West 12th between Arbutus and Main Street.
The city will contribute seven million dollars in the first year of the program and is looking to get a million dollars back in sponsorship.
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On top of that, the city will have to commit another 1.3 million dollars every year.
The city is partnering with a company called Alta that will be responsible for operating and financing the program.
Vancouverites will pay $95 a year, $20 a week or $5 a day to use the program.
Affleck says the estimated cost of the program over the next ten years is a minimum of $20 million.
“When I asked in Council if there was even one example of a profitable and financially self-sufficient bike-share program anywhere in the world, the answer I got back was ‘No’,” says Affleck.
NPA Park Board commissioners also voted against bike sharing when it came to them for a vote.
“We were very concerned about the locations of the bikes in parks and how they would directly compete with the private sector,” says NPA Park Board commissioner John Coupar.
Both Affleck and Coupar will be asking for more detail and what taxpayers might be on the hook for at their respective meetings next week.
We have reached out to the City of Vancouver for a comment.
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