E-bikes added to Toronto bike share network

Bike Share Toronto has launched a pedal assist e-bike pilot programme, announced earlier this summer, as a new feature of Bike Share Toronto’s 2020 expansion. The e-bikes will now be available in the system, and 10 e-bike charging stations for the pilot will be installed over the coming weeks. E-bike charging stations will be able to charge 20-25 bikes at each station.

Toronto Mayor John Tory, alongside Councillor James Pasternak, Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Robin Oliphant, Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) Acting President and Rhonda English, Chief Marketing Officer, CAA South Central Ontario, also announced the return of “Free Ride Wednesdays” in September.

Thanks to the new Bike Share Toronto – CAA South Central Ontario partnership, Bike Share Toronto riders can ride for free every Wednesday in the month of September as the city continues to promote the uptake of cycling.

The e-bikes will allow users to travel a maximum of 25 kilometres and can travel up to 70 kilometres without requiring a charge. E-bike charging stations are said to be fully compatible with the rest of the bike share system, allowing both manual bikes and e-bikes to be docked in any station. E-bikes will be picked up by operators throughout the date to ensure that they are being charged for the next day.

In an effort to prioritise health and safety, Bike Share Toronto noted that it has ramped up its cleaning programme during the COVID-19 crisis. As bikes are regularly in use and exposed to the environment, Bike Share continues to strongly recommend that riders take the steps outlined in the City of Toronto’s COVID-19 Health Advisory when using the system.