TORONTO - BIXI officially moves in to the downtown core on May 3rd, with 1000 bikes, 80 stations, and 1500 docking points.

Toronto joins Ottawa-Gatineau and Montreal in adopting the bike sharing system developed and operated by the Public Bike System Company of Montréal. It operates bike sharing systems on three continents and is the first large-scale bike sharing system in North America.

“The BIXI Toronto program is an exciting new cycling initiative that will encourage more bicycle trips in the downtown core. It is also a great example of public-private partnership to benefit Toronto residents and visitors," said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34 Don Valley East), Chair of the City's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.

Designed to complement public transit, the BIXI bikes are intended to be used for one-way trips of less than 30 minutes. BIXI bikes can be picked up or dropped off at any of the 80 downtown bicycle docking stations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Regular users of the system will purchase a pass for periods of time ranging from one month to one year and will receive a BIXI key. Members can use their BIXI key to take out a bike at any station in the network. Non-members can purchase a 24-hour pass. There is no trip fee if the bicycle is returned to a bike station within 30 minutes. A fee is charged for any trip longer than 30 minutes.

City Council approved the BIXI Toronto program last May, and more than 1,200 Torontonians have since subscribed as members to the program.

More information about the program is available at http://toronto.bixi.com.