Capital Bixi

Capital Bixi was a public bicycle sharing system serving Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Launched in June 2009, it was the second BIXI system worldwide after BIXI Montréal. Capital Bixi was run by the National Capital Commission, which sold the bike share program to CycleHop.^[1]

Capital Bixi
Overview
Owner	Public Bike System Company
Locale	Ottawa, Ontario & Gatineau, Quebec (National Capital Region)
Transit type	Bicycle sharing system
Number of stations	25 (2012)
Annual ridership	44,335 (2011)
Website	https://capital.bixi.com
Operation
Began operation	2009
Number of vehicles	250 (2012)

History

From June to September 2009, the system was introduced in a pilot study with 100 bicycles at 10 stations. In 2012 Capital Bixi and its sponsors the National Capital Commission (NCC), the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau, the Canadian Museum of Nature, Environment Canada, and Telus, expanded the bike share system, covered more ground, and offered 15 new stations and 150 new bikes, for a total of 25 stations and 250 bikes.^[2][3]

In January 2014, the parent company of BIXI, Public Bike System Company, filed for bankruptcy protection,^[4][5] however, the NCC anticipated that the bike share service would return that year nonetheless.^[6][7] In April 2014, the NCC announced that CycleHop would take over the bike share system in the city.^[8][1]

Cost

There were several different payment options with Capital Bixi. Customers could either become members or pay per use.^[9]

Subscription	Cost	Trip included	Additional costs
24 hours	$7.00	Unlimited trips. First 30 minutes free per trip	$1.25 for 31-60 minute rides, $3.50 for 61-90 minute rides
72 hours	$15.00	Unlimited trips. First 30 minutes free per trip	$1.25 for 31-60 minute rides, $3.50 for 61-90 minute rides
30 days	$30.25	Unlimited trips. First 45 minutes free per trip	$1.75 for 46-60 minute rides, $3.50 for 61-90 minute rides
1 year	$80.50	Unlimited trips. First 45 minutes free per trip	$1.75 for 46-60 minute rides, $3.50 for 61-90 minute rides

The bikes

 

Capital Bixi Station

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.^[10] Twin LED rear lights are integrated into the frame, and the robust frame 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.^[11]

References

1. . Ottawa Business Journal. April 22, 2014. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
2. . Capital.bixi.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
3. . Cycle.ottawacitizen.com. 2012-04-18. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
4. Austen, Ian (January 20, 2014). "Canadian Company Behind Bike-Sharing Programs Seeks Bankruptcy Protection". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
5. "Bixi bike service goes bust in Montreal, but expected to operate this year". Ottawa Business Journal. January 21, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. . Ottawa Business Journal. January 22, 2016. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
7. "Ottawa Bixi program still a go despite bankruptcy protection". CBC News. January 21, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
8. "NCC sells Ottawa bike-share service to US-based CycleHop". CBC News. April 17, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
9. . Capital.bixi.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
10. Fisher, Jennifer (13 August 2013). "Divvy Bike Sharing May Come to Evanston". Evanston Patch. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
11. "Rio Tinto Alcan and BIXI: a partnership on a roll" (Press release). Rio Tinto Alcan. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2009-09-14.