Montreal is a great city to live in. The quality of life, healthcare systems, and education fair extremely well when compared to top capitals of the world.
If you are looking to move here from another country or another part of Canada, you are unlikely to regret the move. One of the things you will be looking to work around is how to move around the city.
Which is the best way to travel within this city? Montreal’s bike-sharing system seems to lead the pack rather easily. Read more on this here, and why you should try public bikes in Montreal.
Montreal’s Bike Sharing System
Like most other large cities in the world, Montreal has invested heavily in its bike-sharing program.
A bike-sharing system, public bike share, or public bicycle scheme is a shared transportation system where bikes are available to the public. This is for a short duration and at a fee.
The bike-sharing system is popularly known as BIXI. This term comes from the words bike and taxi. This system was started in 2008 and has been so successful that it is now a reference point for similar programs in other cities. The system has ICONIC and E-FIT bikes, which gives riders both electronic and regular bikes.
How It Works
The BIXI network has 660 stations with over 8,000 bikes. These are distributed across Montreal East, Town of Mount Royal, Westmount, Longueuil, Laval, and Montreal.
As you can see, the network alone provides a safe and convenient way to transverse all parts of the city. Add Montreal’s city parks and picturesque cycling lanes, and you have a perfect way to travel. Renting a bike is simple. For starters, one has to be over 14 years of age and over 1.24 meters tall.
To get started, you need to get the BIXI app on your phone. You can then purchase a renting pass by selecting the ‘’Rent a Bike’’ selection. Next, select the station you are at and request an unlocking code.
Enter the 5-digit code at the docking port, and the light will turn green when the bike is unlocked. You can then back it out slowly and be on your way.
The longest you can keep a bike is 24 consecutive hours. After this, it is presumed to be stolen, and you are liable to fines of up to $1,000.
Why Bike Sharing?
Why does bike sharing take the top spot in transportation? There are numerous reasons for this, including the health benefits of cycling and ease of travel as you can ride your bike around traffic. Cycling is also a cleaner way to travel, unlike cars that release carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Another thing is the ease of travel. While the public buses, subway, and trains have set schedules, you have a lot of flexibility with bike-sharing.
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