Bixi

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For the Chinese stone tortoise, see Bixi (tortoise).
For the Bixi implementation in Montreal, see Bixi Montreal.
Bixi
Type Privately held
Founded 2008
Headquarters Montreal, Canada
Area served Worldwide
Services Bicycle sharing system
Revenue increase CAD 51 million (FY 2011)[1]
Net income increase CAD 1.5 million (FY 2011) [1]
Owner(s) Public Bike System Company
Website http://bixi.com/

Bixi is a public bicycle sharing system developed by the Public Bike System Company (PBSC), which itself was set up by the parking authority of Montréal to create a modular bicycle sharing system for Montréal.[2]

After the implementation of the system in Montréal, Bixi began expanding within Canada and around the world. Bixi systems are now found in the cities of Boston, London, Melbourne, Minneapolis, Montreal, Ottawa/Gatineau, Toronto and Washington, D.C./Arlington, as well as at the campuses of Washington State University and Research In Motion.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

In 2007, the city of Montréal published the "Reinvent Montreal" transportation plan, which featured a bike sharing system as a method of reducing automobile dependence. To design and operate the new system, the city created the Public Bike System Company, a private non-profit company overseen by Stationnement de Montréal, a private enterprise serving as the Montréal Parking authority. [4]

In May 2009, the system began operation in Montréal, with 3000 bicycles and 300 stations.

From June to September 2009, the system was introduced in a pilot study in Ottawa/Gatineau.[5] This was followed by operations in Melbourne, Australia from May 2010,[6] Minneapolis (MN), in June 2010,[7], and London in July 2010.[8] Bixi launched on the Washington State University campus in August 2010, in Washington, D.C. & Arlington under the name "Capital Bikeshare" in September 2010, and in Boston under the name "Hubway" in July 2011.

[edit] System components

A complete station is made up of a pay station, bikes, and bike docks (where the bikes are housed), which are fitted into modular technical platforms that are powered by solar panels. These technical platforms are the base and electronic ports for pay stations and bike docks. Bike stations can be created, expanded, configured and removed in about half an hour, monitored by a real-time management system. Excavation or preparatory work is not required, enabling the installation of a bike station as an adjunct to on-street parking.

[edit] The bike dock and locking system

A large Barclays Cycle Hire Station in London

Bike docks serve to house and lock bikes. Made from aluminium, these modular docking stations are formed by a combination of groups of four docks, which are modular themselves. Inspired by ANAT technology, the bike dock's modularity allows a pay station to be deployed in the place of a single dock. Maintenance and repair of the system is simplified thanks to a removable module present in every docking station which contains the locking system and all critical components that allow the system to function. In case of repairs, this module can be replaced with an identical one immediately, reducing the down-time of the system. The locking system is based on an energy efficient actuator used in the medical sector. The principal inventor of these systems is Charles Khairallah,[9] president of Robotics Design,[10][11][12][13] with co-inventor Michel Dallaire, president of Michel Dallaire Industrial Design.[14]

A Bixi pay station.

[edit] Pay station

Users can rent a bike using a subscriber key (a "Bixi key") obtained through a long-term online subscription (30 days or annual) or an access code provided by the pay station (24-hour access). Pay stations are touchscreen-operated and only accept credit cards. A button is used to notify Bixi mechanics of defective bicycles.

[edit] The bike

The bicycles are utility bicycles with a unisex step-through frame.

The one-piece aluminum frame and handlebars conceal cables in an effort to protect them from vandalism and inclement weather. The heavy-duty tires are designed to be puncture-resistant and are filled with nitrogen to maintain proper inflation pressure longer.[15] Twin LED rear lights are integrated into the robust frame, which weighs approximately 18 kg. The bikes are designed by industrial designer Michel Dallaire and built in the Saguenay, Quebec region by Cycles Devinci, with aluminum provided by Rio Tinto Alcan.[16]

[edit] Rates

Rates differ by city. In general, users need to take out a subscription, which allows the subscriber an unlimited number of free trips shorter than a given time (generally 30 min). A trip that lasts longer than this incurs additional charges, on an increasing price scale. The increasing price scale is intended to discourage long trips, which helps keep the bikes in circulation.

Montreal Rates (not including the subscription):[17]

time first 45 minutes up to 60 minutes 61 to 90 minutes subsequent 30 minute periods
rate included $1.50 $3.00 $6.00

Toronto Rates (not including the subscription):[18]

time first 30 minutes up to 60 minutes 61 to 90 minutes subsequent 30 minute periods
rate included $1.50 $4.00 $8.00

[edit] Bixi Developers

  • 8D Technologies developed the controls used to run Bixi parking and bike rental and return from the same automated terminal. The system runs on solar energy to reduce environmental impact and maximize the system’s overall energy efficiency. 8D also created a bike-share smartphone app that locates and shows the status of bike stations close to the users.[19]
  • Michel Dallaire created the design of the physical components.[20][21]
  • Robotics Design created the modular bike dock and the intelligent locking system.[22]
  • Cycles Devinci manufactures Bixi bikes in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec.[23]
  • Rio Tinto Alcan is the title sponsor of the BIXI program, as well as providing aluminium for the bikes.[16]
  • Morrow Communications.[24]
  • Michel Gourdeau: suggested the name Bixi, a portmanteau of bicycle and taxi, which was selected by a majority of the people who participated in a contest organized by the city of Montreal.

[edit] Bixi around the world

City Country Start Date Bikes Docking Stations Docking Spaces Name Website
Montreal Canada May 2009[25] 5,050 405  ? Bixi Montreal [4]
Ottawa
Gatineau		 Canada June 2009[5] 50 4  ? Bixi [5]
May 2011[26] 100 10  ? Capital Bixi [6]
Melbourne Australia May 2010[27][28] 610 52 1,000 Melbourne Bike Share [7]
Research In Motion campus, Waterloo Canada May 2010[29] 25 8 56 Bixi  ?
Minneapolis
St. Paul		 United States June 2010[7][27] 700 65 1,300 Nice Ride Minnesota [8]
Spring 2011[30]  ? 115  ?
London United Kingdom July 2010[31][32] 6,000 400 10,000 Barclays Cycle Hire [32]
2012[33] 8,000  ? 14,400
Washington State University campus, Pullman United States September 2010[34][35] 32 4  ? Green Bikes [36]
Washington D.C.
Arlington
Alexandria		 United States September 2010[34] 1,100 114  ? Capital Bikeshare [9]
first half of 2011[37] 1,300 150  ?
September 2011[38] 1,300 156  ?
Toronto Canada May 2011[39][40] 1,000 80 1,500 Bixi Toronto [10][41]
Boston
Brookline
Cambridge
Somerville		 United States July 2011[31][42][43] 600 61  ? Hubway [11][44]
Quebec City Canada August 2011[45] 11 1 11 Bixi  ?
New York City United States Summer 2012[46][47] 10,000 600 20,000  ? [12]


[edit] Difficulties

Some cities experienced hurdles in implementing BIXI systems, including Ottawa, Boston, and Montreal.

A trial implementation in Ottawa and Gatineau took place in the summer of 2009, with 50 bikes and four stations available until September 2009. While the trial was successful, they did not return in 2010 as no company wanted to manage the project as the National Capital Commission wanted the contractor to buy the bicycles and locking stations.[48] The project was revived, however, and 100 bikes and 10 stations will be launched in spring 2011.[49]

Bixi's franchise in central Boston includes the right to negotiate to expand the system to neighbouring municipalities. Central Boston will be served by a network that includes 2,500 bikes, and 290 stations with 3,750 docking spaces, with the potential to expand to a 5,000-bike system. The system was delayed, partly because of a lack of funding, but is on track to launch in Spring 2011 with 610 bikes and 61 stations.[50] They had initially planned to set up a BIXI system directly, but now are using Alta Bicycle Share of Portland, Oregon[51] to set it up.[49] Alta Bicycle Share is a sister company of Alta Planning + Design,[52] undertaking all the services to create and manage bicycle sharing systems. Alta Bicycle Share uses the same system of bicycles and stations that are used in BIXI through the Public Bike System Company.[53]

The BIXI system in Montreal experienced some initial difficulties less than two months after its introduction in 2009, with damage and vandalism to some of the bikes. The La Presse newspaper reported on July 5, 2009 that one in five bikes had been damaged and 15% of bike racks are defective. Stationnement de Montréal communications director Michel Philibert stated the organization plans to reinforce racks and is testing prototype designs.[54] Designer Michel Dallaire stated it never occurred to him that people would try to break the stations to steal bikes. [21] There have since been no significant damage or vandalism issues reported in any of the installations of BIXI.

[edit] Awards

  • Bixi was ranked 19th in Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2008.[55]
  • Bixi won the Eco-Design award from INTÉRIEURS FERDIE.[56]
  • Bixi was awarded the 2009 Gold Edison for Energy and Sustainability.[57]
  • Bixi was awarded Bronze in the transport category for International Design Excellence Awards(IDEA)for the Bixi bike,next to the all new BMW Z4 Roadster.
  • Awarded Gold price for Prix de leadership in the OSBL category of the canadien public sector.
  • Bixi is a finalist for the "Prix Québécois de l’entreprise citoyenne".
  • 2010 Project of the Year award from PMI-Montréal, and a second Project of the year 2010 award in the emerging sector category(Won by Public Bike System Company, supported by the City of Montreal for the Bixi project).
  • Bixi was awarded the 2010 GOOD DESIGN Awards.[58]

[edit] Popular Culture

  • The Montreal rap group Da Gryptions had a viral hit song and video in the summer of 2010 titled “The Bixi Anthem”[59] which was a tribute to the bike system.[60]

[edit] Mobile Applications

[edit] For iPhone

[edit] See also

Portal icon Canada portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Société de vélo en libre-service: États financiers". PriceWaterhouseCoopers. 2011-03-15. https://montreal.bixi.com/uploads/media_items/bilan-financier.original.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  2. ^ http://www.bixisystem.com/who-we-are/about-us/
  3. ^ https://toronto.bixi.com/
  4. ^ Riga, Andy (May 17, 2010). "City insists taxpayers will still come ahead with Bixi". Montreal Gazette (Canwest). http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/City+insists+taxpayers+will+still+come+ahead+with+Bixi/4800187/story.html. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
  5. ^ a b "A bicycle built for sharing". Ottawa Citizen. 2009-06-09. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/bicycle+built+sharing/1675718/story.html. Retrieved 2009-06-10. [dead link]
  6. ^ "First international launch: BIXI's rolling in Melbourne". http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/lancement-melbourne. 
  7. ^ a b "BIXI - News". Montreal.bixi.com. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/the_first_bixi_unveiling_U-S_city/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  8. ^ "London saddles up for new bike hire scheme". BBC News. 2010-07-30. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10810869. 
  9. ^ WIPO. "(WO/2009/129623) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING A MOVABLE ITEM TO A STRUCTURE". Wipo.int. http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2009129623. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  10. ^ Marc Tison. "Le Volksvélo". La Presse. http://www.roboticsdesign.qc.ca/LeVolksvelo_2008.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  11. ^ http://www.roboticsdesign.qc.ca/MERCI_ROBOTICS_DESIGN-BIXI.jpg
  12. ^ Sébastien Lamoureux. "Robotics Design à l’origine d'innovations audacieuses du Bixi". ETS university. http://www.etsmtl.ca/manager/doc/robotics_design_10_09.html#. Retrieved 2010-10-27. 
  13. ^ http://www.roboticsdesign.qc.ca/Coup_D'oeuil_2009_BIXI.pdf
  14. ^ Lysiane Gagnon. "Montreal's wheels of fortune". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/montreals-wheels-of-fortune/article1380963/. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  15. ^ Ross Lydall (2010-05-21). "Taking a ride on Boris's hot wheels hire bikes". London Evening Standard. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23836583-taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-hire-bikes.do. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  16. ^ a b "Rio Tinto Alcan and BIXI: a partnership on a roll" (Press release). Rio Tinto Alcan. 2008-10-28. http://www.riotintoalcan.com/ENG/media/media_releases_1332.asp. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
  17. ^ "Subscription and Fees". bixi.com. 2011. http://montreal.bixi.com. Retrieved 2011-04-26. 
  18. ^ "Subscription and Fees". bixi.com. 2011. http://toronto.bixi.com. Retrieved 2011-04-26. 
  19. ^ "www.8d.com". www.8d.com. http://www.8d.com. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  20. ^ "www.dallairedesign.com". www.dallairedesign.com. http://www.dallairedesign.com. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  21. ^ a b HALFNIGHT, ANDREW (August 17, 2009). "Picking the brain of Bixi's inventor". Montreal Gazette (Canwest). http://www.montrealgazette.com/Picking+brain+Bixi+inventor/1896380/story.html. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  22. ^ "roboticsDesign". roboticsDesign. http://www.roboticsdesign.qc.ca/biximtl.html. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  23. ^ "www.devinci.com" (in (French)). www.devinci.com. http://www.devinci.com. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  24. ^ "www.morrow.ca". www.morrow.ca. http://www.morrow.ca. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  25. ^ [1][dead link]
  26. ^ "BIXI - News". Montreal.bixi.com. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/gatineau-ottawa/. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  27. ^ a b "BIXI rolls along on three continents". Bixi. 2010-02-02. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/bixi_now_rolling_on_three_continents%20/. Retrieved 2010-02-16. 
  28. ^ "BIXI - News". Montreal.bixi.com. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/lancement-melbourne/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  29. ^ http://news.therecord.com/article/711660
  30. ^ "Nice Ride Minnesota Announces Phase 2 Funding". Nice Ride MN. https://www.niceridemn.org/news/2011/03/01/32/nice_ride_minnesota_announces_phase_2_funding. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  31. ^ a b "BIXI bikes will soon be wheeling in the streets of London and Boston!". Bixi. 2009-08-11. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/bixi_will_be_wheeling_london/. Retrieved 2009-08-11. 
  32. ^ a b "Barclays Cycle Hire | Cycling | Transport for London". Tfl.gov.uk. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/12444.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  33. ^ [2][dead link]
  34. ^ a b "BIXI ROULERA DE WASHINGTON À... WASHINGTON!". Bixi. 2010-05-21. http://www.bixi.com/pdf/washington-fr.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-21. 
  35. ^ "BIXI - News". Montreal.bixi.com. 2010-09-01. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/wsu-en/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  36. ^ "Green Bikes". Wellbeing.wsu.edu. http://www.wellbeing.wsu.edu/environmental_greenbikes.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  37. ^ "Capital Bikeshare Expansion Planned in New Year". Dc.gov. 2010-12-23. http://www.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/Capital+Bikeshare+Expansion+Planned+in+New+Year. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  38. ^ "Alexandria considers bike-sharing". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2011/02/alexandria_considers_bikeshari.html. 
  39. ^ "How the city’s new bike-share program works". National Post. 2010-05-12. http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/05/12/how-the-citys-new-bike-share-program-works/. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  40. ^ "BIXI - Nouvelles". Montreal.bixi.com. http://montreal.bixi.com/nouvelles/complete/toronto-lancement/. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  41. ^ "BIXI TORONTO - Home page". Toronto.bixi.com. http://toronto.bixi.com/index.php/frontend/home/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  42. ^ Moskowitz, Eric (2011-04-21). "Boston set to launch bike share program". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/21/boston_set_to_launch_bike_share_program/?p1=News_links. 
  43. ^ "Brookline eyeing funding sources for bike sharing - Brookline, Massachusetts - Brookline TAB". Wickedlocal.com. 2011-02-25. http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/features/x700953534/Brookline-eyeing-funding-sources-for-bike-sharing#axzz1FGyCfsy1. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  44. ^ "Hubway Boston - Home page". thehubway.com. http://www.thehubway.com. Retrieved 2011-07-13. 
  45. ^ http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/transports/201108/07/01-4424213-des-bixi-a-quebec-des-lautomne.php?utm_categorieinterne=trafficdrivers&utm_contenuinterne=cyberpresse_B9_environnement_263_accueil_POS1
  46. ^ http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/regional/montreal/201109/14/01-4447629-les-bixi-rouleront-a-new-york.php?utm_categorieinterne=trafficdrivers&utm_contenuinterne=cyberpresse_B4_manchettes_231_accueil_POS2
  47. ^ https://montreal.bixi.com/about-bixi/news/2011/09/14/new-york-city-choses-bixi
  48. ^ "Public Transit in Ottawa: Bixi bike-rental program in Ottawa hits a snag". Transitottawa.ca. 2010-07-16. http://www.transitottawa.ca/2010/07/bixi-bike-rental-program-in-ottawa-hits.html. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  49. ^ a b "BIXI conquers a third capital: our system in the heart of the capital of Canada in 2011!". bixi.ca. 2011-03-01. http://montreal.bixi.com/news/full/gatineau-ottawa/. Retrieved 2011-03-20. 
  50. ^ ["Metro Boston Bike Share Program". Metropolitan Area Planning Council. 2010-12-08. http://www.scribd.com/doc/49559410/bike-share-overview. Retrieved 2011-03-20. 
  51. ^ "Home". Alta Bicycle Share. http://www.altabicycleshare.com/. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  52. ^ "Alta Planning & Design - Bicycle, Pedestrian, Greenway & Trail Projects". Altaplanning.com. http://www.altaplanning.com/. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  53. ^ "Home". Bixisystem.com. http://www.bixisystem.com/. Retrieved 2011-04-11. 
  54. ^ Cameron, Daphné (2009-07-05). "Robuste, le Bixi?" (in French). La Presse. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/regional/montreal/200907/05/01-881358-robuste-le-bixi.php. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
  55. ^ "Best Inventions Of 2008". Time. 2008-10-29. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1852747_1854195_1854146,00.html. Retrieved 2010-04-26. 
  56. ^ "Grands Prix Du Design". Prixinterieursferdie.com. http://www.prixinterieursferdie.com/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  57. ^ [3][dead link]
  58. ^ "Le système BIXI remporte le 2010 GOOD DESIGN Awards - Catégorie Environnement". BIXI. 2011-02-01. http://montreal.bixi.com/nouvelles/complete/good-design-award/. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 
  59. ^ "The Bixi Anthem by Da Gryptions - Download The Bixi Anthem on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-04-30. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-bixi-anthem/id370929113. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  60. ^ "Da Gryptions ride Bixi rap to the top". Montreal Gazette. 2010-06-29. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Gryptions#cite_note-1. Retrieved 2010-08-17. 

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