As she passes on the torch of BIXI Montreal’s presidency in the coming weeks, Marie Elaine Farley presents this morning the balance sheet of the busiest season in BIXI’s history as well as the financial results for fiscal 2019. With a surplus of close to $600,000 for this period, the 2019 balance sheet demonstrates the extraordinary enthusiasm of Montrealers for this active transportation mode. The bike-sharing service, strong symbol of the city and of its ability to innovate, has seen sustained growth in its clientele over the past six years, as sales have increased by more than 300% since the creation of the NPO in 2014.
For BIXI Montreal’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Marie Elaine Farley, the efforts made over the past few years to rigorously manage this Montreal asset and to develop an offer that is constantly better adapted to users’ needs are bearing fruit. In fact, BIXI has been awarded an impressive 94% satisfaction rate by its clientele in 2019.
“All purchasing categories have experienced major growth in recent years, particularly in 2019, confirming BIXI’s relevance as a partner for integrated mobility in Montreal. Increases of 146% in unique users and 81% in ridership since 2014 demonstrate the extent of the progress made. It is therefore with a sense of accomplishment that I will pass on the torch,” mentioned Marie Elaine Farley.
For Montreal mayor Valerie Plante, “The work of the BIXI team has ensured its sustainability and has made it a key player in active transportation in the city. I would like to thank Ms. Farley for having served as BIXI’s president for the past six years and for having contributed to the success of this essential Montreal asset.”
Éric Alan Caldwell, member of the executive committee and in charge of urban planning, mobility and the Office de consultation publique de Montreal added: “We are proud to have extended BIXI to the citizens of six new boroughs in 2019, while considerably increasing the number of stations, docking points and bicycles available. We are also delighted to see the implementation of the first electric bicycles, for which the number will increase by 1,000 in 2020. In the current context, and in order to respect the social distancing strategies implemented by the government, BIXI is becoming an additional safe option, making citizens’ daily lives easier. Last Friday, the City of Montreal announced the deployment of one of the world’s largest plans dedicated to active transportation. More than ever, we encourage Montrealers to use bicycles and BIXI.”
Mr. Caldell also made a point of thanking Ms. Farley, BIXI Montreal’s administration members and its teams for their professionalism and the invaluable work accomplished since the creation of the organization: “You have shown vision in the development of the BIXI system in Montreal, and under the leadership of the last six years, it has become an indispensable transportation mode for the city, ” he added.
