BIXI Available for Essential Travel as of April 15, 6 a.m.

Free subscription is offered to the employees ofMontreal's public health and social service institutions.

MONTREAL, April 14, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The decision to proceed with the launch of BIXI services on the scheduled date was made in collaboration with the City of Montreal and Montreal's regional public health department in order to facilitate essential travel as well as the daily lives of workers who remain at the service of citizens in the context of COVID-19. Moreover, in order to support health care personnel who are redoubling their efforts during this exceptional period, and to offer an additional option to facilitate their commute, BIXI will offer a free 30-day subscription to all employees of Montreal's public health and social service institutions.  

"On behalf of BIXI Montréal, I would like to thank all of our dedicated employees, who made it possible to put the BIXI network into service despite this extreme and unprecedented situation. I also salute the front-line workers who continue to go to work every day, especially the health care staff, true guardian angels who watch over us with their invaluable work. We wish to support them by offering them a free 30-day subscription," stated Marie Elaine Farley, Chair of BIXI Montréal's Board of Directors.

In the current context, the use of BIXI bikes is encouraged for essential trips only. It is important to remember that people with symptoms compatible with COVID-19, as well as suspected or confirmed cases, should be in isolation and should not be in public places, nor should they use the bike-sharing service. In addition, a minimum distance of two metres must be maintained between cyclists and other people in order to respect the social distancing strategies implemented by the government.

FREE SUBSCRIPTION FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK
Over the next few days, employees of the Montreal health and social services network in 10 institutions and more than 300 facilities (hospitals, CLSCs, CHSLDs, youth centres, etc.) will be able to have access to instructions on how to take advantage of the program via their employer.

 Note that no fewer than 207 health care institutions are located within 500 metres of a BIXI station and that all of these stations are serviced by the metro.

A DECISION MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH REQUIRES COLLABORATION AND USER ACCOUNTABILITY
"From the very first announcements regarding COVID-19, our priority has been to collaborate with the regional public health department and to respect its recommendations in order to make BIXI services available on April 15 in a responsible manner. All stations in the network will be available as of tomorrow to facilitate essential travel," added Christian Vermette, general manager of BIXI Montréal.

"Cycling is part of the range of transportation options available to residents who need to travel in today's environment, including those working in health care and other essential services. Infrastructure dedicated to bicycle use, such as BIXI stations, bike paths and bike lanes, are necessary for mobility in Montreal, as are sidewalks, roads and public transit,"  as stated by Dr. Mylène Drouin, Regional Director of the Montreal public health department. 

USER INSTRUCTIONS AND NEW PROTOCOLS FOR DISINFECTING AND CLEANING EQUIPMENT
In the context of COVID-19, BIXI Montréal has implemented important measures that comply with the recommendations of the regional public health department. These include new protocols for disinfecting and cleaning bikes and the various equipment of the bike-sharing service, as well as new instructions for users. Users can consult all of these recommendations on the Bixi.com website. Instructions are also available on all BIXI communication platforms and at each station throughout the network.

For example, BIXI will implement new procedures for disinfecting surfaces frequently handled on bikes (seat and seatpost collars, grips, plastic surfaces of handlebars), transaction terminals (terminals) and docks (touch pads). The use of the BIXI key or the mobile application is also recommended for rentals. Instructions to users include frequent hand washing with soap and water (for 20 seconds) or with an alcohol-based disinfectant solution (e.g. Purell) before and after using the bike, avoiding face touching, and maintaining a minimum distance of two metres between cyclists and other people. These same general preventive measures apply to employees responsible of the maintenance of all BIXI equipment in the warehouse and on the road.  

BIXI 2020 NETWORK
A total of 610 stations, 7,270 regular bikes and 160 electric bikes will be available to BIXI users on April 15, to which will be added 1,000 new E-BIXI bikes over the summer (electric bikes). After being deployed in the boroughs of Lachine, Saint-Laurent, Montréal-Nord, Anjou, Rivière-des-Prairies—Pointe-aux-Trembles and Saint-Léonard in 2019, BIXI Montréal also concluded new agreements last year with the Town of Mount Royal and the city of Laval. The agreement with Westmount was also renewed for a 10-year period.

BIXI MONTRÉAL IN FIGURES

• Coverage as of April 15, 2020: 610 stations /14,674 docks /142 km² served /17 boroughs and 3 cities (Westmount, the Town of Mount Royal and Laval)
• Number of regular bikes: 7,270
• Number of electric bikes: 160 at the beginning of the season and 1,000 new E-BIXI bikes this summer
• Number of users: 318,675 in 2019 (+31% compared to 2018)
• Number of trips made: 5.83 million in 2019 (+8% compared to 2018)
• Days in operation: 214
• Average daily trips: 26,864 in 2019 (+10% compared to 2018)
• 81% growth in trips over the past 5 years
• Since the launch of BIXI in 2008, BIXISTS have made nearly 44 million trips.

"The major growth recorded by BIXI over the past few years illustrates the predominant place that our bike-sharing service occupies in the city. With the crisis we are currently experiencing, the service is becoming an additional option that facilitates the daily lives of citizens who have essential trips to make. However, we would like to remind users to follow the recommendations issued by the regional public health department to the letter. This is a shared responsibility that will allow us to return to a normal way of life as quickly as possible, by working together," says Éric Alan Caldwell, member of the executive committee, responsible for urban planning, mobility and the Office de consultation publique de Montréal.

ABOUT BIXI MONTRÉAL
BIXI Montréal is a non-profit organization created by the City of Montreal to manage its bike-sharing system. In 2020, the network will include 610 stations, 7,270 regular bikes and 1,160 electric bikes on the territory of Montreal, as well as in Westmount, the Town of Mount Royal, Longueuil and Laval. For more information, please visit the BIXI Montréal website.

ABOUT RACHELLE BÉRY
The first Rachelle Béry grocery store opened in Montreal in1984, on the corner of Rachel and Berri streets, hence the name. Today, there are 11 neighbourhood grocery stores and over 60 health boutiques located in IGA supermarkets across Quebec. Over the years, Rachelle Béry's mission has never changed. It remains to support wellness by encouraging discovery and promoting organic, natural and local products.

ABOUT THE ARTM
The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain was created by Bill 76, which changed the governance of public transit in the Greater Montreal Area. With a view to sustainable development and regional cohesion, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain plans, organizes, finances and promotes public transit and paratransit in the Greater Montreal Area in order to provide a simple, integrated, fluid and efficient mobility experience. To this end, it draws up a strategic development plan, a funding policy, a fare framework and service agreements that govern the development, organization and funding of these services. To do so, the Autorité works to mobilize the driving forces of the public transit community around a unified vision.

SOURCE BIXI Montréal