BIXI shows off at their Bash - over 100 members already!

Photo frrom lodoe-laura.

Pedestrian and blogTO writer, Annia, took the BIXI bikes for a spin last night at the BIXI Bash at Gladstone Hotel. As a person who doesn't cycle her perspective is interesting, because she is a representative user in the demographic that BIXI is targeting: those who don't bike but will start biking more regularly when it is dead simple.

My BIXI bike and I got off to a shaky start, which is a testament to how long it's been since I've mounted one of these things and not to the build quality of the bike itself, which I admit is rather sturdy. I bungee-strapped my bag onto the front rack, adjusted the seat to my desired (and very short) height and once I pushed off the curb, it all came back to me - just like... riding a bicycle. For someone who isn't familiar with the ins and outs of cycling, I can attest to how well the bike handled on the flooded potholes of Gladstone Avenue.

The word is that a lot of people feel the same about BIXI; over 100 people signed up for the membership just on the launch day. We're 1/10th of the way to meeting City Council's target.

“(City) council gave us the citizens a challenge: can we have 1,000 people subscribe by November?” said Sean Wheldrake, bicycle promotions coordinator at the City of Toronto.

“We can say there are a couple hundred people here tonight who Other cyclists said they are also looking forward to BIXI, but some expressed concern the rental stations will only be in the downtown area, from Spadina Ave. to Jarvis St., south of Bloor St.

Sam of the BIXI team, shows people how to take out the bike:

The blue bike: