steveintoronto
Superstar
More so than it is now...
Interesting article. The reader comments have a lot of info. Example:
The electric scooter craze is officially one year old — what’s next?
|
|
|
Toronto Bike Share
- Thread starter kettal
- Start date
Interesting article. The reader comments have a lot of info. Example:
amnesiajune
Senior Member
They're already everywhere in Denver, which is a tiny bit warmer in the winter but gets just as much snow as we do. I think the main problem here is that these e-scooters fall under the definition of a "motor vehicle" and aren't licensed, which means they can't be legally used on sidewalks or on streets.
Towered
Superstar
I saw them all over Vienna last month. As usual, Toronto lags decades behind progressive cities.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
They have existed for literally 12 months. And there is a company that has already launched them in Waterloo and is planning on bringing them here very soon. Relax.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/wor...take-off-as-a-commuting-option-but-raise-ire/
Towered
Superstar
Relaxing is why Toronto is a joke.
Neutrino
Senior Member
Midtown Urbanist
Superstar
You could try walking around the PATH at rush hour to cure that particular ailment.
DSC
Superstar
Member Bio
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 19,813
- Reaction score
- 28,711
- Location
- St Lawrence Market Area
Very interesting Reports coming to TPA Board next week:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2018.PA16.3 and
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2018.PA16.4
The first one states:
a. City Council approve the principle that Bike Share as a municipal service is an integral component in the City's transportation, transit and mobility network, and as such, there is considerable merit in continuing City investment and support in the program.
b. City Council acknowledges that user/operating revenues alone will not completely cover ongoing operating expenses of Bike Share, and municipal subsidy will likely be required to offset capital requirements (State of Good Repair and expansion) and net operating deficits.
c. City Council approve the "Financial Sustainability Principles" set out in this report, and that funding current outstanding, as well as future Bike Share capital programs and operating deficits, as necessary, be considered as part of the annual budget cycle in accordance with these principles, namely.
i. Efficiency in operations - the need to continually optimize the expense side of operating the Bike Share system;
ii. Securing system sponsorship and advertising - as key elements to offset operating deficits and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Bike Share;
iii. Commitment to municipal funding subsidies – to address any system shortfalls as well as capital programs, recognizing the value of the municipality continuing to invest in a Bike Share program;
iv. Subsidy funding would not rely on property tax sources, debt financing or impact operating budgets; and
v. Future years' net surplus operating funds, if any, be deposited to the Bike Share Reserve.
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2018.PA16.3 and
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2018.PA16.4
The first one states:
a. City Council approve the principle that Bike Share as a municipal service is an integral component in the City's transportation, transit and mobility network, and as such, there is considerable merit in continuing City investment and support in the program.
b. City Council acknowledges that user/operating revenues alone will not completely cover ongoing operating expenses of Bike Share, and municipal subsidy will likely be required to offset capital requirements (State of Good Repair and expansion) and net operating deficits.
c. City Council approve the "Financial Sustainability Principles" set out in this report, and that funding current outstanding, as well as future Bike Share capital programs and operating deficits, as necessary, be considered as part of the annual budget cycle in accordance with these principles, namely.
i. Efficiency in operations - the need to continually optimize the expense side of operating the Bike Share system;
ii. Securing system sponsorship and advertising - as key elements to offset operating deficits and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Bike Share;
iii. Commitment to municipal funding subsidies – to address any system shortfalls as well as capital programs, recognizing the value of the municipality continuing to invest in a Bike Share program;
iv. Subsidy funding would not rely on property tax sources, debt financing or impact operating budgets; and
v. Future years' net surplus operating funds, if any, be deposited to the Bike Share Reserve.
Northern Light
Superstar
In reading the report, a few things pop out at me, other than the typos........ LOL
1) That past operating deficits were not covered in-year, and are now being proposed to be made up by raiding the Public Realm Reserve Fund. I'm under the impression this fund was meant for investing in streetscapes and the like and I'm not
overly enthused at the idea of millions of dollars going from that to cover operating losses of a transportation service.
If the service did not actually show debt on its books, I'm not quite clear on how the bills were paid and why the loss needs to be covered at the tail end of 2018.
But if that's justified, so be it, but I'd rather the funds came from elsewhere.
2) The preliminary budget for expansion in 2019 is 7.5M that should be about the same as last year, I believe. Which would suggest something in the range of 90 additional stations this year. Also noted in the report is that they have decided the optimum size for Bikeshare is the range of 6,000 bikes at about 600 docks. Current expansion plans for 2020 would leave them just shy of this target.
Last edited:
pstogios
Senior Member
So it’s not called Bixi. Can we remove that from the thread title?
Admiral Beez
Superstar
I do wish Bikeshare would stop putting their stations on the grass. Twice now picking up bikes on a dark morning I've stepped in dog sh#t trying to extricate a bike from the dock. This morning, 6:30am I'm getting bike at Queen and Berkeley and spat goes the dog crap - so apologies if the brand new men's room in the lower concourse at Union smelled like a dog's rear this morning - that was me washing off my boot. Same happened last year at Sumach and Carlton. Multiple other times getting or dropping off bikes during nighttime I've been lucky enough to see and avoid the mess beforehand.
So, please no more of these...
So, please no more of these...
I'd contact them directly about this. It may be that it's something they never considered.
steveintoronto
Superstar
^ I must say that I'm surprised they didn't at least put down flag stones, if not a concrete plinth, just for structural stability and safety alone.
Even clots of mud, let alone dog poo, can make it awkward for arriving at the office or somewhere requiring decorum. The grass is going to be trampled anyway, as the picture above shows.
Even clots of mud, let alone dog poo, can make it awkward for arriving at the office or somewhere requiring decorum. The grass is going to be trampled anyway, as the picture above shows.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
they do it all over the place. Wellington and Stanley Park, King and Dufferin, Liberty Village, all have grass based (or in a few cases, more like mud based) stations. On wet days it's pain.
Avenue
Active Member
They likely don't have budget and/or ability to simply pave over grass. And in many locations there are no options as paved sidewalk space is limited or unavailable.