VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says problems in other cities should be raising red flags for Vancouver when it comes to the proposed bike share program. While awaiting a council vote, there are concerns it’s going to cost you a lot more than what’s being let on.
The CTF’s Jordan Bateman says the near $1.9 million cost could actually be higher when you include advertising and other incidentals. In addition, he claims the company behind the bike share, Bixi, has apparently had software problems in the US.
In Australia, Bateman says Melbourne and Brisbane have had bikes sit untouched for days.
“Their bike share is a huge money loser,” he adds. “It’s because of the helmet laws. People don’t want to rent other people’s helmets and they don’t want to carry helmets around.”
And Bateman says Montreal taxpayers had to bail out Bixi to the tune of $108 million last year, money he claims is still owed.
“Our money, from Vancouver, will go to help defray some of the costs of Montreal’s bailout. It doesn’t make any financial sense. I don’t know why Vancouver is rushing into this and I don’t know why they’re doing it when we’re still seeing if it’s going to work in places like New York and Chicago.”
He also wonders why bike sharing needs a taxpayer subsidy, when three successful car share programs in Vancouver have gone without it.
“Much ink has been spilled over the Vision Vancouver obsession with bikes,” Bateman writes in an editorial. “City Hall has been criticized for the Hornby bike lanes, the lack of enforcement against Critical Mass protestors, the suggestion of removing parking along Stanley Park’s Pipeline Road for more cycle paths and for looking at radical changes to the Granville and Cambie bridges, to name just a few.”
“Finally, the zone set out for Bixi misses key areas,” he adds. “Like south, central and east Vancouver, Commercial Drive, UBC and elsewhere. It is limited to the downtown peninsula and north of Broadway between Main and Arbutus.”
The City of Vancouver says it’s talking with the company to see if a solution can be found.
Bike share problems should raise red flags for city: CTF
Taxpayer Federation says $1.9-million cost could be higher with advertising and other incidentals
Dave White
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The bike share is a waste of taxpayers money and will cost millions. Mayor Moonbeam needs to get a grip and end this stupid idea of his now before it is too late. Why would he want rental bikes in a city where it rains 9 months out of the year? I have seen the bikes they want to buy and frankly I would not attempt to ride them as they are very heavy and who wants to wear a bike helmet that thousands of others have worn.