Montreal

Bixi's 1-way pass pays off as casual rides almost double

The introduction of a $2.75 one-way Bixi pass seems to have paid off for the bike-sharing service, as the number of casual rides almost doubled in 2015.

3.5M rides taken on Montreal bike-sharing service in 2015, a jump of 9.4 per cent over previous year

Although casual rides almost doubled for Bixi in 2015, the number of active users remained flat. (Luc Lavigne/Radio-Canada)

The introduction of a $2.75 one-way Bixi pass seems to have paid off for the bike-sharing service, as the number of casual rides almost doubled in 2015.

Bixi sold nearly 258,000 casual passes in 2015, compared to 135,000 last year, an increase of 91 per cent.

Casual passes include 24 hour, 72 hour, and single-ride options.

The total number of rides taken increased by 9.4 per cent, from 3.2 million to 3.5 million.

However, the number of regular active users remained flat at 33,800.

Bixi recorded a surplus for the first time in its six-year existence last summer.

The service was bailed out of bankruptcy by the city in 2014.