Public Bicycle System

A modern public bicycle system (PBS) is an automated, integrated system that provides bicycles for short-term use for a fee. The bicycles are parked at convenient, secure, user-friendly self-service automated stations and users may check out bicycles at one station and return them to any other station. Re-distribution of the bicycles ensures there are sufficient bicycles and docks available for users.

The idea of public bicycle systems has been around for many years, from its earliest incarnation as the White Bicycles in Amsterdam and the Yellow Bicycles in France to the high tech systems of the present.

Recent PBS implementations in other cities, such as Paris, Lyon, and Montreal, have shown that, in addition to supporting active and healthy living, public bicycle systems:

a. Extend the reach of transit and walking trips;

b. Reduce transit trips to help alleviate transit capacity issues; and

c. Typically trigger renewed interest and participation in cycling in general.

The City promotes cycling as an integral part of daily life in Vancouver and is committed to providing bicycle services to both residents and visitors. To that end, in March 2009, Vancouver City Council approved a motion directing staff to explore opportunities to implement a PBS. Additionally, the City’s Greenest City Team identified the implementation of a public bicycle system as one of the eight GCAT Quick Start Actions (44 in total).

Next steps:

In April 2011, the City released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to invite applications from interested parties to develop, install, own, operate and finance a Public Bicycle System in Vancouver, for a targetted launch in spring 2012 or earlier. City staff are currently reviewing the responses to this RFEOI and expect to present their results to Council this fall, along with the feedback received from an online survey and two City-hosted open houses. Council will then decide whether or not to pursue a PBS in Vancouver. If implementation of a PBS is pursued, further public consultation opportunities will be available; please visit us later for more details.

For more Information:

For more information, e-mail the Bicycle Hotline at bikevancouver@vancouver.ca.

Additional information on public bicycle systems in other cities can be found on the The Bike-sharing Blog.

For further information on cycling in Vancouver, please visit our Bike Vancouver Facebook.

Public Bicycle System - Survey Results

Summer 2011 Survey Results:

In June 2011, the City conducted an on-line survey and hosted two open houses in downtown Vancouver. Feedback was collected from 350 people, 33% online and 67% at the two open houses. About half of all respondents were familiar with or had used a PBS in another city. Eighty-five percent believed that a PBS would be a beneficial transportation option in Vancouver and 81% would use a PBS if it were available in Vancouver. Of the 15% of respondents who didn't think a PBS would be a beneficial transportation option in Vancouver and provided comments, the concerns were evenly split regarding safety, funding, operational challenges, and the feasibility of this system under mandatory helmet legislation.

Summer 2009 Survey Results:

In June 2009, Vancouver residents and visitors caught an early glimpse of a public bicycle system. Each bicycle station includes a pay station, bicycle docks and bicycles, and is equipped with solar panels that power the station.

During the demonstration, residents and visitors were surveyed to find out what they thought about having a public bicycle system in Vancouver, and how they might use it.

Overall results indicated that if a similar public bicycle system was available in Vancouver, about 80% of respondents would use it in summer, and 70% would even use it in winter.

The following section summarizes the results of each section of the PBS survey.

note: 422 surveys completed, 268 in-person and an additional 154 were completed online.

Likelihood of respondents to use PBS during the summer and non-summer months

Comparison of gender and likelihood of using PBS

Place of residence and likelihood of using PBS during the summer time

Types of trips respondents would make on PBS

PBS type of trip	%
Commute to work or business use only	7%
Shopping or personal use only	18%
Leisure or recreational only	41%
All of the above	43%
	100%

Combination of types of trips	%
Commute to work or business use & Shopping or personal use	14%
Shopping or personal use & Leisure or recreational	77%
Commute to work or business & Leisure or recreational	9%
	100%

Use of PBS with another mode of transportation

Combine PBS with one other mode	%
Walk	33%
Bicycle	3%
Transit (e.g. bus, SkyTrain, Sea Bus)	49%
Taxi, tour coach	1%
Drive alone	8%
Carpool, Ride-share	0%
	100%

Use of PBS with a combination of modes of transportation

Combine PBS with a combination of other modes	%
Walk/Bike/Transit	7%
Walk/Transit	50%
Walk/Drive alone	2%
Walk/Transit/Carpool	3%
Transit/Drive alone	3%
Other combinations	36%
	100%

Number of one-way trips respondents might typically make in summer

Preference of PBS membership

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