BIKE SHARE TRIAL RUN COMES TO AN END

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCCN-09-09-11-NR
September 25, 2009

Canada’s Capital Region - The National Capital Commission (NCC), la Ville de Gatineau and the City of Ottawa would like to thank the public that participated and provided comments on the Bike Share system demonstration program this past summer.  Four Bike Share Stations with a total of (50) fifty bikes were set up in downtown Gatineau and Ottawa to obtain data for a feasibility study of a larger, permanent service offering. 

“We are eagerly anticipating the findings of the feasibility study which will allow us to evaluate whether a broader service can be offered in the Region on a permanent basis,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “A viable and well used bike share system would provide a healthier and greener means of transportation for residents and visitors to Canada’s Capital Region.”

The Ottawa-Gatineau Bike Share Trial Run ended on September 22, 2009. For the NCC, the City of Ottawa and the Ville de Gatineau, the focus now moves to analysing data collected from the pilot project that will feed into the feasibility study. The Société de vélo libre-service, who provided the bikes and services, has started to remove the stations and their popular BIXI bicycles.

July and August were the busiest period for the initiative with a steady daily average of 50 to 60 trips between the four stations: within expectations for the limited scope of the trial run. The latest numbers available indicate that more than 3000 residents and visitors logged 5361 trips with the Bike Share service.

“Congratulations to everyone, including Ottawa’s cyclists, for making this trial run a success,” said Larry O’Brien, Mayor of Ottawa. “We look forward to the results of the Bike Share feasibility study which will deliver recommendations on how to effectively run a larger, permanent service in our region.”

“The Ottawa-Gatineau Bike Share Trial Run has been another example of  successful regional collaboration,” said Gatineau Mayor, Marc Bureau. “This summer’s experience with BIXI has allowed us all to sample a new mode of sustainable transportation that promotes healthy lifestyles and tourism development. I am confident that this undertaking will grow in the region.”

The results of the feasibility study are expected in a few weeks. Once the results are received, the partners in the Trial Run, the NCC, the City of Ottawa and the Ville de Gatineau, will evaluate the findings and discuss next steps.

Media Information:  

Jean Wolff
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5703 (office)
613-797-0279 (cellular)                            

Service des communications – Ville de Gatineau
819-595-7171
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Public Affairs – City of Ottawa
613-580-2450
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