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BIXI
Categories: Active Life Hotels & Travel Transportation Public Transportation Active Life, Public Transportation [Edit]
2113, 32e AvenueLachine, QC H8T 3J1
(877) 820-2453
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
37 reviews for BIXI
36 reviews in English
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Review from Jonny M.
Edmonton, AB
5/22/2012
Words cannot describe how much I LOVE Bixi in Montreal. Been an avid user for the past two years and essentially use it every day - bixing to the gym, metro, school, restaurant, bar, work, you name it.
If you live in Montreal, buy a season pass (it's only $80 for the season which usually runs from April to mid November or whenever it snows). An absolute steal. If you don't use Bixi, I feel for your loss. You are missing out!
If your visiting, make sure you try it for a day ($7) which is valid for 24 full hours or 3 day pass ($15). The absolute BEST way to explore Montreal and see what it has to offer. -
Review from Jenna M.
3/6/2012
I've had not one, not two, but three of my bicycles stolen! Upon discovering the last theft, sheer outrage (*fists were shaking*) mixed with the feeling of my heart sinking was enough for me to give up cycling forever! OK, for a few days. I soon discovered Monty's BIXI system and before I could say "Holy bananas, this bike weighs a ton!", I was once again pedalling around the city, albeit at a slower speed than my previous street bikes. BIXI is extremely convenient (when you don't unlock one only to discover that it's busted or has a flat tire), and the docking stations are plentiful and easily accessible around the city. In the warmer months, you won't see me on a bus or on the metro...I get my booty to work by working it, literally, along the bike paths that the city of Montreal has been so kind to construct for its city dwellers. Now, if they'd only do something about the actual roads...
Before I pedal off on a tangent, I'd like to give BIXI two thumbs up for helping me get to work in a timely fashion, for allowing me to burn a few extra calories every day, for making me feel like I'm reducing my carbon footprint, and for getting me home in the wee hours when public transportation is lights out and I'm too poor to pay for a taxi. On, one, two, three, Yay BIXI!! -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
7/24/2011
* Great convenient system *
Everyone always talks about Vancouver being so bike friendly, but in Vancouver biking seems to require having thousands of dollars of fancy form fitting clothing and aerodynamic helmets along with a healthy set of balls to brave the hostile car-bike-pedestrian dynamic that has evolved due some political actions by the mayor and his council which have ignored pedestrians and cars while tooting their own bike bell. Granted, I bike in Vancouver - but not with all the fancy schmancy equipment - and fear for my bike being stolen when I park it - and fear of driver or pedestrian hostility due to the political nature of bike culture in Vancouver.
This public bike system, BIXI, makes biking what it should be - hassle free and convenient.
You unlock a bike using your keycard (if you are a member), or a credit card if you are not a member. As an out of towner, I had to use the credit card method, but it worked flawlessly. I inserted my card, got charged $5 and that was good for unlimited number of trips in a 24 hour period. Each time I inserted the card again it recognized I had already paid and just gave me an unlock code. Once you have your code you pick the bike you want, unlock it, and ride off to wherever you'd like. When you are done you just lock it back into ANY BIXI stand so you don't have to worry about the bike once you get where you are going. You simply take a new one when you next need one. Fabulous system.
The bikes are sturdy and have a handy spot up front to carry small bags even.
But the nicest thing? There doesn't seem to be a hostility between pedestrians, bikers, and cars. Everyone just seems to get along and not make a big deal out of it. Priceless!
The only drawback to the system is that due to the heavy sturdy nature of the bikes, and the fact they only have three gears, I worked up quite a sweat going uphill. I missed my bike going uphill. But other than that - this is a total winner of a system. It gets lots of casual users without fancy schmancy gear and expensive bikes, gets rid of concerns about parking bikes safely for the user, and is amazingly convenient.
Vancouver as a bike friendly city? I say, "B.S." Montreal is much more friendly for biking! -
Review from Tiffany Z.
8/29/2011
They have monthly passes.
$5 for 24 hour rental etc...
Good stuff if you wanna take a ride round town... -
Review from Kimberly P.
6/28/2011
Me: avid city cyclist.
Bixi: heavy, durable bikes, very cheap, easy and convienent. And fun!!! Wheeeeeeee!
Better than walking. Better than the Metro. Cheaper than taxi. Healthier than driving.
Don't worry about not having a helmet, you can't go very fast.
People in cars were actually really NICE - no one honked at me! :) -
Review from Jason F.
7/11/2011
As a regular transportation and rare sport cyclist in Austin I was unsure if these Bixi bikes would be any more than a tourist/old-lady novelty. It took my first ride to realize..
I WAS PILOTING A BICYCLE-TANK HYBRID; AND I LOVED IT.
STRAP IN YOUR CRAP!
RUN OVER THAT POT-HOLE!
RING YOUR BUILT-IN BELL!
JUMP THAT CURB!
DRAFT THAT SPANDEX-WEARING ROADIE!
ATTEMPT A WHEELIE!
LAUGH MANIACALLY!
RING YOUR BUILT-IN BELL!
RING YOUR BUILT-IN BELL!
RAM YOUR BIKE INTO THE DOCKING STATION!
RING YOUR BUILT-IN BELL!
Knock a star for the occasional buggy station software and busted bike (though the latter issue is a user issue and not a system issue). -
Review from Malorie F.
11/11/2011
Bixi made our trip to Montreal an absolute blast. Since we didn't pack bike locks in our carry-ons, we were a little confused on what we would do with the bikes once we got to our destination, but we figured out quickly that there are Bixi stations EVERYWHERE. We never had a problem finding a rack to clip our bikes into so that we could walk around, grab some food, or whatever. No pre-planning or mapping out your day required. If you see somewhere you want to stop, or need a rest, you just clip the bike back into the nearest rack, do your exploring, and then when you're ready to ride again you swipe the same credit card you rented the bike with, get a new four digit code to unlock the bike, and you're on your way. You only get charged for the 24 hr. period; that is to say you don't get charged every time you swipe your card. You can clip and unclip as many times as you want. We did get the $200 (per bike) hold on our credit card, but it just stayed in "pending transactions" until it fell off a few days later. I suppose this could screw you up if you were using a debit card, as opposed to a credit card.
We saw so much more of the city than we ever would have on foot alone, and had so much fun taking full advantage of the very bike-friendly city plan of Montreal. I would say we're both moderately active (I run two miles two or three times a week) and we had no trouble navigating the city and managing the physical aspect of it. Obviously, you chart your own path, so if you're not in very good shape, you could keep your rides short and on flat ground. The bikes are easy to ride and while sturdy, they aren't too heavy to pedal around the city very easily.
The bikes also have a nice basket and bungee cord set up on the front, which we used for our backpack/bags throughout the day. -
Review from Janine T.
11/3/2011
The annual pass was purchased for me as a birthday present and I must say that I love my BIXI! I ride it everywhere and it gets me home all the time seeing as the Metro stops so darn early. These bikes absolutely suck going uphill (3 gears?!? Come on!) but they are tanks: potholes, bumps and construction on Laurier ain't got nothing on a BIXI. Cars seem to steer very clear of me and I love slamming my bike into the docking station after a long day, it gets some of that pent up frustration out. I shed a tear as I saw a bunch of stations being taken apart this morning :( Winter *le sigh*
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Review from Jihye S.
Montréal, QC
7/10/2011
Love it. Must try while in Montreal.
If you live in Montreal, annual membership is so worth it.
Very convenient, and if something goes wrong you can phone them. Very helpful.
Website tracks your riding info etc. Very convenient.
When you return a bike, make sure you see a green light. You might get a fine of $200 etc.
Bixi isn't built for a long ride. It's made for stability and frequent stops and safety etc. (Not for racing, not for endurance. It's made for tourism, convenience, and commuting)
Montreal has a nice bike network. Best online map for bikes here: http://www.pedalmontre... -
Review from Leean O.
1/29/2012
dont pay with a debit card, $250 later you'll regret getting your deposit back 9 days later, horrendous customer service over the phone to top things off.
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Review from Val G.
This is definitely the way to go for travelling around Montreal in the warmer months. It's more convenient than the Metro and cheaper than a cab. The stations are conveniently located and $12 buys you unlimited 30min trips for 72hrs. Plus you'll get some exercise and you get to do a lot of sightseeing while biking and be able to pull over at any time.
I found the majority of the bikes I rode were in good shape, the seat could be adjusted easily, the brakes worked perfectly and the gears changed with relative ease(though there's a delay switching when biking up a steep incline).
Only two small issues we had were finding stations full when returning the bikes, then needing to bike farther to another one(apparently if you stick your credit card in the machine, it will buy you an extra 15mins to find a station with space available). The other issue was that the BIXI website is advertising 45mins in MTL as the limit per trip but they have yet to update the stations so we were both charged an extra $1.50 for a 35min journey.
It's still a bargain if you can keep your trips under an hour. -
Review from Bob G.
10/9/2009 2 photos
Thanks to the people of Bixi, we have a useful, realistic alternative in our attempts at commuting in the city. On my last visit to Montreal, I spent two days using Bixi and it cost me $4.64 a day on my credit card. Which I simply swipe to get a Bixi. Then I move amongst the 400 stations in Montreal which house 5,000 bikes.
Why is Bixi the Bomb?
1. Very inexpensive
2. No maintenance required
3. The bikes have undesirable parts (avoids theft)
4. The bikes are designed to last, are safe, and plentiful
5. Sure, your bike is better, but numbers 1-3 do not apply.
Coming to a city near you!Listed in: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Review from Jenna W.
11/7/2010 1 photo
There's nothing quite like exploring a new city by bike! This system is something I wish every city in the US had - not quite sure it would work everywhere - but it'd be nice. Easy to use (just read the directions so you don't waste time like me trying to figure out how to unlock a second bike), cheap, convenient locations and, most of all, awesome!
If NYC had BIXI, I'd use it for shopping, when family comes to visit, barhopping... Love it!!! -
Review from Mathieu B.
Roxboro, QC
6/30/2009
The system is new and haves lot of downside. Number 1: the cost is a bit too much. For a tourist some might think it's a bike rental for the day but it's actually a tool for you to go to place A to B. Otherwise some extra charge for the additional hours can get expensive.
Number 2: The Vandalism: if you lock your bike in and it shows that you actually locked it correctly. You should have a ticket complying that you're no longer responsable for the bike itself; some guy got charged some damage he didnt do which currently has no escalation or way to escalate it. By having a ticket, the system should be able to make a overall check-up and basically have some 24/7 camera looking at bike.
Number 3: One of the major issue is mostly the fact that you need a credit card. Why a prepaid card wouldn't be an option? It"s ridiculous.
Number 4: too many Bixi are used in some really particular place causing some penury of bixi to some place: some staff x-fering bixi should be working on that a lot more efficiently.
Overall: pratically, environnementaly friendly and suited to the already existing bike culture in Montreal! -
Review from luke b.
6/23/2009
What an effing awesomely awesome kick-ass system. It's a great way to see the city and to get from place to place AND get a touch of exercise, if you want. I did. it was great. Pick up bikes anywhere, drop them off anywhere. There are Bixi stands EVERYWHERE. At one point we were ready to drop off only to find a bixi stand with no free slots. "Not to fear" says Liam, there was ANOTHER drop off less than a block away.
What's more, because it was just initiated when I was in Montreal, tons of people stared and asked questions... Nothing better than a hot French dude asking you how you like Bixi... YAY!
One drawback is that they put a hold on your card to ensure that you don't steal the bike. I'm not sure if they do it each day you want the bike or what, but either way I LOVED Bixi.
If only they could do something like that in ... haha Bos... haha... ton.. HAHAHAHAHA I won't hold my breath. -
Review from Derrick V.
7/10/2010
Montreal's fabulous rent a bike. You can find stations everywhere throughout the city, making for a convenient way to get around.
Secret: Ride for 30 minutes and park at a station. Wait a minimum of 5 minutes and repeat cycle. Your $5 will get you a day's worth of riding ;)Listed in: Montreal
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Review from matt h.
7/9/2011
The bixi bike system is tremendous. Me and my wife have been on four separate trips already today, and can't believe the convenience and value of the system. The bikes themselves are good enough and rugged, with three gears and sturdy tires. There are stations almost everywhere, so staying under the half hour limit is not much of a problem. The best ride we had today was from Jean-Drapeau Island to the other island next to it (the one with the casino) and then back into town over the other bridge (the southern one) and through the port area. The ride was scenic and tons of fun, but it does take about an hour so you are going to pay the little fee it costs to keep the bike an extra thirty minutes.
Great work Montreal! -
Review from katie j.
10/6/2010
Absolutely wonderful, really made my trip to Montreal. The public bike system is such a fantastic, economical way to explore the city. There's so much flexibility in being able to quickly pick up a bike in one location, then drop it off at the next. There are so many bike-friendly paths throughout the city, particularly the ones highlighted on the BIXI maps. Really wish they had this system in NYC (although the city is probably too crowded to make riding as pleasant as it is in Montreal).
I found a free app for my smartphone (Droid) that make the experience even better. The app provided a Google map with all the stations and a live feed of the number of available bikes and docking spaces. Perfect.
The bikes themselves are pretty well constructed. They're easy to ride and adjust, so don't worry if you're no Lance Armstrong. The "basket" and bungee cord in front are perfect for bags and small backpacks.
Just a warning to be cautious of your time. 30 minutes can pass by more quickly than you think! Can be stressful when you're rushed to return the bike, particularly if a station is full or far away... so definitely get the app if you can. -
Review from Russell S.
6/30/2009
Utilitarian bike that gets you from A to B. It's affordable. It works. They're everywhere!
Here's the drawback - if you use your bank card / debit card, it places a $200 damage deposit hold on your account for 5 days. They need to change that asap.
Overall, it's a great way of getting around the city when you don't have a bike of your own close by. -
Review from SM J.
Montréal, QC
5/28/2010
Now in its second season, I've noticed to my great delight that many of Bixi's kinks (those that I'd experienced last year, at least) have been ironed out.
The usage seems much better monitored, with trucks re-populating heavily-used stations throughout the day while making room at others for returns. I use the system on a daily basis to get all around town, and it's rare now that I approach a station that's completely out of bikes, or that's completely full. I've also yet to encounter a vandalized bike or bike dock this season, which was a recurring nuisance last year.
To get around town, it's still cheaper than a round-trip on public transit; and going between or within most popular neighbourhoods (Plateau, Downtown, Mile End, Old Montreal...) rarely takes more than the 1/2 hour "free" period.
Not to mention it's far more convenient than taking the bus: there are more bixi stands out there than bus stops to bring you closer to your destination and you don't need to wait for the next bus to arrive. Plus, not being squished up all hot and sweaty next to other passengers is not an insignificant bonus.
Word to the wise, if you own multiple credit cards, make note of which one you used when purchasing your day pass. Bixi remembers your number so if you swipe again w/in 24 hours, you're not charged the access fee again. -
Review from Jen C.
7/2/2011
Love, love, love the Bixi!! I am a HUGE fan.
Do NOT leave Montreal without riding one. I will admit, my husband had to really convince me to get on one (hey, it was raining and I was wearing jeans and ballet flats, can you blame me?), but once I did it was the greatest experience ever! You certainly don't have to be wearing any certain type of attire to ride one, that was my misconception. The Bixi bikeshare WORKS in Montreal and is a great way to get around town. We were staying in Old Montreal but were able to go to Mount Royal, Cirque du Soliel, downtown, pretty much everywhere! We even road to the top of the Park Mount Royal on Bixis. What I mean by "works" is that people respect people on bikes here, it reminds me of Portland Oregon. There are people of all shapes and sizes and ages on bikes at all hours of the day. Probably the coolest part was biking home from L'Express in my going-out wear, tube top and jeans, jetting in between cars and being one with the city. Such a great feeling, don't miss out on a great transportation success of this city! -
Review from Tim L.
12/28/2009
You ever come out of a Montreal bar at night a little hammed and feeling like you have a brilliant idea for the next thing to do or place to go?
This will happen to you.
1. You will come out of a random Montreal bar.
2. You will spot a BIXI station and be amazed they are everywhere.
3. You will attempt to persuade all in your party to hop on and go drunk riding
4. You will most likely get yourself home afterward after riding off the buzz
I'm not advocating operating any sort of vehicle under the influence, but I'm just saying...it's definitely not as crazy as those that drink and drive and seriously when you come out of somewhere drunk and you spot one of these things, you think it's the best idea in the world. (I might be speaking from experience).
Anyways in all seriousness, Montreal has done a great job in implementing this bike share system. The bikes are solid and comfortable for commuting in the city and they have all the basic easy riding components. A kick stand and a pseudo basket. Lights make it easy for people to see you and the chain is nicely covered to make sure you don't get your pants (or skirt) caught in it.
Their prices are super reasonable and their annual fee is amazing if you live in Montreal. It really makes it a feasible transportation alternative during the warmer months if you live within the coverage area of BIXI.
Note to other visitors who might not be informed, you have to check the bike in every 30 mins, or else you get charged extra it's not like a rental you might do from a bike shop. Like others have mentioned it's a means for you to get from one point in the city to another, not so much for touring. -
Review from constance k.
8/2/2011
When the machine prompts you to read thru 52 pages, PLEASE READ.. They put a $250 hold on your bike till it is returned but credit could take up to 10 days! Very Heavy Bikes!
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Review from Janel Y.
6/12/2010 1 photo
I love cities that have public bikes for rent, i.e. Himeji, Japan and Copenhagen, Denmark. The convenience of having this is a great benefit, no matter if you have a car or not. It's especially fun as a tourist to bike in a foreign city and get to know the area or just get lost and be able to bike your way back home (which is much faster than walking your lost butt home!).
Each bike has a little area where you can put your purse, man-bag, groceries, jacket, etc and there's an elastic strap to keep it in place. There are different gears on the bike for when you encounter those hills (thankfully, not as steep as a SF hill!), a bell to signal to pedestrians to move out of your way and even at night, blinking lights so you're seen. The seats are adjustable and I found the handlebars somewhat front-heavy...I was afraid I was going to accidentally steer into a parked car! The only thing it's missing is a helmet!
It's $5 to rent it for 24hr access (paid only via MasterCard or Visa) and the first time you rent one, you have it for 30 minutes. At the kiosk, you'll get a numbered code that you have 5 minutes to enter at the individul bike station.
So then every time after you take the bike out, the first 30 minutes are free but if you go over then there are additional fees. So the question is, if you want it for longer than 30 minutes, can you just check it into a station after 30 minutes and then check it out right away for another free 30 minutes or is there a time limit from when you can re-check it out?
There are so many BIXI stations that you are never left looking for a station to either rent one or return one. -
Review from Krista A.
Montréal, QC
8/21/2010
What did I do before BIXI?! Every city should have this bike system. I use it for everything; groceries, meeting friends for drinks, general getting around. The thought of taking a taxi doesn't even enter my mind anymore. With a basket and bungee on the front of the bike, it can handle a big bag, up to 20lbs. So it's perfect for mini shopping sprees.
Although tourists can use the rent a bike system, it's really geared for locals, as it's cheapest to buy a year subscription for $78. By the way it's good for a calendar year, so if you buy it in August of 2010, it's good until August of 2011.
You can take a bike out for 30 minute periods. If you keep it out longer than that you're charged extra money, so make sure you stay within the half hour limit. Once you return your bike you have to wait 5 minutes before taking another one out.
My first complaint is that every now and then, depending on the popularity of a specific station there are no bikes, or no empty docks, forcing you to go to the next closest station. However, with stations generally within 300 yards of each other, you won't have a long walk.
My second complaint is that the bikes are really chunky and heavy, and even in 3rd gear don't go really fast. Be prepared to be passed by all the other non-bixi bikes. But it's still faster than driving or public transit!
I'm not an expert bike rider, and you don't have to be one to ride. There's lots of bike only paths around the city.
I'm in love with the BIXI! I'm dreading the winter when they take them away :( -
Review from Amador A.
8/27/2009
What a great way to get around a biking city. You can find a BIXI station all over Montreal which makes it easy to get around.
The bike has 3 gears which makes it easy to get up and down all of the hills in Montreal. As far as the weight don't even bother picking it up, cuz its heavy.
Prices of the rental is $5 for the first initial rent from there the first half hour is free, second half hour is $1.50, first hour $3.00, so on and so fourth.
You do not have to return the bike where you first rented from, you can return your bike at any BIXI station in the city. -
Review from Tammy F.
Montréal, QC
6/20/2011
Love my Bixi. Great way to transport yourself around the city, a lot cheaper than anything else in my opinion. Very accesible throughout downtown.
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Review from Dan M.
9/10/2009
Bike-sharing is a fabulous idea that is huge in Europe, and only slowly making its way across the pond. Washington, DC was the first North American city to start up a pilot program (see "SmartBike"), but Montreal's Bixi was the first full-sized city-wide system on the continent. By 2010 there will be a few more in other cities.
For $5 a day (or $80/year) you get use of thousands of bikes stationed around the central city. They are heavy bikes, built for street riding, but you're not racing them in the Tour, so who cares. You can return a bike to any station in the system (not just the one you got it from), so it is a great way to get from Point A to Point B, especially given the $2.75 per ride transit fare in Montreal. The bikes are especially easy to use because Montreal has such fabulous bike lanes all over the city (often segregated from cars).
The one drawback is that since the bikes are intended to be used for short distance trips, you are charged an extra fee if you have one out for longer than 1/2 hour. This isn't a big problem, because you can always park the bike you have at a station after 25 minutes and then rent out a new one for no additional cost, but it can be a little inconvenient. -
Review from Tom W.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2009
Montreal recently came out with a bicycle rental system similar to Paris's Velib. We tried it the day it opened (Tues May 12) and overall were quite impressed.
Despite a few glitches, it was a great experience being able to go to an on-street bike rack, put your credit card in the slot and pull out a sturdy bike, which you could use for 20 minutes, 2 hours, whatever.
Some positives - lots of places to pick up and drop off your bike, simple system to use, you fit right in to the Montreal bike culture, gearing is good enough to get you up most hills (the trail in Mont Royal Park I tried cycling up was an exception, but I don't think I was supposed to ride up that anyway!)
Some things that require work - Seat adjustment is limited (I'm 5'10" and had the seat on the highest setting), gearing is backwards to what you might be used to on a grip-shift system (3 speed internal hub), some of the stations didn't work properly (there are solar panels on each one to provide power for the computer, but some of the streets were in the shade, which might be why we couldn't get a bike) and at present there aren't enough stations to properly service all needs (we had to go to 3-4 stations on the 2nd day before we found some bikes to use).
There is a basket with a bungee cord at the front, but it doesn't hold a lot. It would also be nice to have a map with basic cycling route info either as a 'printout' option at the stations, as a plaque mounted on the stations, or embossed on the bike somewhere for easy reference.
All in all, a lot of fun! I hope it's a success (Paris had something like a 35% vandalism rate for their bikes) and that it spreads to other places! -
Review from Michael E.
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Review from cb P.
7/7/2010 1 photo
How I wish we had this in New York... what a great system! Each bixi station has a detailed map of all the other stations so that you can plan your ride, but there are also apps available for smartphones that will let you know the nearest station and bike/dock availability. The bikes themselves have a little basket in the front, front and back lights, a saddle with a height number so you don't have to play with the saddle every time you get a new bike, a 3-gear shifter (nice for the hillier parts!), and a cute-sounding bell. Simply awesome.
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Review from Jay T.
7/5/2009
cool system, wish we have more like this in other cities but...
the bikes are of rather poor quality. they are heavy, only 3 levels of shift, and half of the bikes I tried don't brake very well. not really an option for people that want to bike for hours to see the city, unless you want to look for a station every half an hour. -
Review from Dorise G.
7/17/2010
if you're visiting and you need to get around Montreal, Bixi's the way to do it.
parked all over the city, you pick up a bike where you are, drop it off where you go - you don't need to return to the same spot you picked it up from (which is why it's better than zipcar). Montreal is a fantastic biking city, and as a total non-cyclist, even i hopped on a bike to trek around.
words to the wise: do not pick up a bike and keep it out. return to racks frequently, lest you be charged lots o' $$$ - see Derrick V's note about how to stretch your Bixi dollar. also, they don't come with helmets, so make sure you bring your own! -
Review from Jeff C.
8/7/2010
So after a 20 dollar cab ride from my hotel to Jean Talon Market, I walked my way down St. Lauren and found this bike thing. Luckily, there was employee who was loading the bikes that showed me how it worked. Following his advice, I rode and walked from Plateau to Chinatown, to Old Town back to Place DuPuis. It was wonderful as the stations were everywhere. Without the map, it was easy to find. Now I have the map, I wish I would have started my trip again with BIXI. I travelled the town in speed, comfort and got to do all the sightseeing without missing the details. Montreal residents (and now us tourists) are indeed very lucky. Thanks for all your hard earned high taxes. We'll be catching up in the states with the taxes, and maybe in the next life we would be able to afford the bikes after paying down the U.S. deficit. What a wonderful city to enjoy in the summer.
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Review from R G.
6/29/2010
Bixi, Montreal's Bike sharing program was an excellent way to easily travel throughout Montreal. But watch out for the security deposit that stays on your credit card until 10 days after your first rental.
Bixi allows subscribers (or tourists) to enter a credit card to "check-out" a bike -- in 30 minutes increments during a 24 hour period. That is you could check out a bike, bike 30 minutes to the next station-- check-in your bike, wait 2 minutes then check out another bike. You can do this it seems an unlimited number of times in a 24 hr period. JUST DON'T EXCEED the 30 min limit. As of 6/2010 its $5 Canadian for a 30 min rental.
There is a large number of these Bixi Stations scattered around several locations (and many near Metro or Hotels) so finding one was never difficult.
The bikes are heavy solid bikes with a cute little bell and a little basket in the front, the seats are adjustable and there are 3 "speeds". There are even pedal-powered front and rear lights for nighttime biking.
All in all a great program. HOWEVER, there will place a $250 Security deposit on your card for each rental. This is a charge that will stay on your card for 10 DAYS! And in our case cause our credit card to lock out our card during our recent trip. It was not made clear at the check-out kiosk that this charge would appear on your credit card.
It is only because of that fault (and hassle with the credit card company) that Bixi doesn't get a perfect score for being a such a unique and fun way to bike in Montreal. -
Review from zehr s.
9/3/2010
if only every city had this kind of service, if only the bikes were lighter
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