There are growth plans for the Bike Share Toronto program to purchase hundreds of e-bikes and charging stations.
As the Ontario government work to remove some controversial bike lanes, the City is planning to expand its Bike Share Toronto program.
More than $12 million is being sought by the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) to electrify its bike fleet with the purchase of hundreds of e-bikes, solar stations and e-docks as part of a Bike Share four-year expansion program.
A proposal by the TPA is being considered by City Council whose members will likely approve the spending to become a leader in the use of electric bikes and charging systems.
Some $9 million dollars of the funds will be used to purchase new equipment for next summer and $3 million as a down payment on the order, according to the November 8 proposal.
The City plans to eventually have more than 10,000 e-bikes with new stations in Rexdale and Scarborough.
“TPA’s vision to be the world’s leading provider of sustainable parking, bike sharing, and last-mile mobility solutions for our customers, partners, and the city,” according to the proposal.
Bike Share Toronto plans to add 180 solar stations, 350 electric charging docks (e-docks), 450 iconic bikes and 300 e-bikes to the system next year.
It said the investments will grow the Bike Share network to 1,042 stations, 1,375 e-docks, and 10,250 bikes, including 7,930 iconic bikes and 2,320 e-bikes. It currently has 625 stations across the City.
“The expansion will prioritize neighborhoods where affordable mobility options are most needed, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience citywide,” the report stated.
City staff said use of the Bike Share program is surging in the downtown area and they expect to have six million rides this year.
“The strategy focuses on the electrification of the network through the introduction of E-bike stations and EV charging stations.”
If approved, the plan will introduce new stations in Rexdale, Scarborough Centre, Scarborough North, and Scarborough Agincourt.
It calls for more stations in the downtown area to enhance high-demand areas, ensuring that users can find available bikes or docking stations.
“With demand in the core continuing to surge, this additional infrastructure will help maintain accessibility for members and casual users alike,” the TPA said.
So far this year, riders in Toronto have taken 4.7 million Bike Share trips, already overtaking ridership in 2022 and fast approaching the 5.7 million mark set in 2023, according to Bike Share officials.
They expect six million trips on Bike Share this year.
Bike Share Toronto’s ridership revenue is forecasted to reach about $7 million this year.
The bike-sharing market in the U.S. is expected to see a steady increase in revenue, with projections indicating a rise to $325.30 U.S. this year.