VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is defending his city’s proposed bike share program after criticism from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.  And that’s despite the fact the mayor admits kinks will have to be worked out.

The CTF questions why Vancouver would “rush into” the bike share when financial problems and software issues arose elsewhere with the company the city is considering hiring.

But Robertson insists it won’t happen here.  “There have been mistakes in other cities as this is a very new innovation in transportation for big cities.  I think we’ll have a really good program here.  We’ve seen 35 per cent growth in cycling over the last three years in Vancouver, so people want to be riding bikes more.”
With the program subsidized by the City of Vancouver, there are concerns from taxpaying bike rental shops they’re facing unfair competition.

“We’re being very mindful that it’s not an overlap or unfair competition; they typically rent for longer periods.  The bike share programs are typically for very short-use periods, but again we’re working with those companies to make sure we do this and design this right.”

He’s also confident city staff have learned from mistakes made elsewhere.