The Government of Canada has committed up to $4 million through its Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) for bike share expansion in Toronto, which is matched with another $4 million from the City of Toronto. Through this funding, the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) was able to deliver 70 Bike Share Toronto stations in 2017 and is installing another 75 stations by the end of August this year.
In addition to the Bike Share Toronto expansion funded through PTIF, Metrolinx is funding a further expansion of 15 stations through a contribution of $980,000.
The 2018 expansion will add a total of 90 new stations to the Bike Share Toronto network. As a result of both the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and Metrolinx contributions, the system will grow to 360 stations in Toronto, with a total of 3,750 bikes, and 6,200 docking points.
“These expansions of the Bike Share network provide people in Toronto with an easy, healthy, and efficient way of getting around and helps reduce congestion in our city,” said Mayor Tory. “The investments that our governments are proudly making to expand Bike Share complement the City’s 10-year Cycling Network Plan.”
As in previous expansions, the new Bike Share Toronto locations will be near TTC subway stations and stops, to enhance Toronto’s public transit and transportation network. Bike Share Toronto stations will be located as far north as Yonge Street at Eglinton Avenue, and as far east as the Beaches and East York.
“Bike sharing is a great option for transit users, whether they’re travelling for work or for play,” said Annalise Czerny, Metrolinx’s Executive Vice President of PRESTO. “This expansion will help more people make connections between transit and their destinations, including the nearly 200,000 GO Train and GO Bus customers who travel through Union Station every day. The Bike Share program has additional benefits for customers who use PRESTO – they receive a 30 per cent discount on their first annual membership.”
In 2016, City of Toronto Council approved a 10-year Cycling Network Plan to connect, grow, and renew infrastructure for Toronto’s cycling routes over the next decade. Bike Share Toronto, operated by the TPA, now has almost 13,000 active members and provided 1,904,798 rides over the last 12 months.
For more information about Bike Share Toronto, visit bikesharetoronto.com.
