Montreal

Bixi inks new sponsorship deal with Manuvie

Bixi announced Monday it is has inked a new three-year deal with the insurance company Manuvie.

Bike-sharing service to kick off season April 15

Bixi was launched in Montreal in 2009 and despite financial troubles, became a model for bike-sharing around the world. (Luc Lavigne/Radio-Canada)

Montreal's bike-sharing service has a new sponsor.

Bixi announced Monday it is has inked a new three-year deal with the insurance company Manuvie.

Mayor Denis Coderre and the head of the board at Bixi, Marie Elaine Farley, made the announcement this morning at city hall.

It's unclear what the new sponsorship is worth.

The service announced a new element to Bixi this year.

It will have a valet service during festivals and events to help people return and sign out bikes more quickly.

The Bixi stations will begin to show up this year around town starting on March 24 — and the season will kick off on April 15.

In 2015, Bixi saw a 9.4 per cent increase in the number of trips taken.

In 2014, it ran a surplus of $818,000 — the first time it was in the black since the service began.