They're essentially pussies. I sent them an email saying that if they don't expand within the first year (or basically by next summer), I'm not going to renew my subscription.
They expanded their network TWICE in the first year in Montreal, yet we're showing higher rates of usage/membership and success. As it is, the network is useless for me and the majority of cyclists in the city. Expanding west into the bike-hungry neighbourhoods to Roncesvalles, for example, would do wonders for users. I just got the membership to support them, but if they're not willing to invest further into our market then I see no need to do the same.
I think that's rather unfair, not to mention inaccurate.
By the end of 2009, Bixi Montreal had 11,000 members
By the end of 2010, 30,000
By the end of 2011 over 40,000
Bixi Toronto has 3,000 members, that is certainly not better than Montreal, even in its nascent days.
It needs 6,000 just to break-even.
Now, its worth noting, they launched in Montreal at roughly 3x the size they did in Toronto.
However, that was a decision imposed by Toronto City Council, both in failing to offer higher loan guarantees or dedicate the staff time to finding locations.
Bixi does not make a profit (yet) and can't expand w/o the host City guaranteeing the loans needed.
They have every interest in expanding in Toronto, when/if the City ponies up the guarantee for the debt required to finance the exercise.
There's no question their land area was too small to create critical mass; and that was mis-step; but not one of their own making........and this decision, sadly, belongs to the Miller-era council, not the Ford one.
Hopefully it will be corrected. I am told a report will come forward with options for the City-supported Bixi expansion in spring 2012.
Its not yet clear to me if those options will actually be 'recommended'.
IF you want to make sure the City supports Bixi's expansion.....email Denzil Minnan-Wong, he's the Ward 34 Councillor and chair of Public Works Ctte; this is his file.