More SoBi bikes and hubs for key neighbourhoods in Hamilton launching today
Hamilton, ON - July 27, 2017 - This morning, the City of Hamilton and Hamilton Bike Share will celebrate the official launch of the Everyone Rides Initiative with the addition of 12 new SoBi hubs and 75 new bikes. The hubs and bikes will be added in neighbourhoods between Wentworth Street and Ottawa Street in Hamilton.
The Everyone Rides Initiative will make Hamilton Bike Share more equitable by removing financial barriers to accessing the bike share system. It will also offer inclusive opportunities for residents to learn to ride. The initiative will include:
- The addition of new hubs and bikes
- Translation services
- Riding workshops
- Subsidized memberships
“The City of Hamilton continues to demonstrate the success of our bike share program. It is truly a fantastic accomplishment that as a result of exceeding the usage projections, this has led to the expansion with new hubs and additional bicycles. The Everyone Rides Initiative brings the program to more neighbourhoods, and ensures accessibility for everyone in our City as we strive to be a national leader in sustainable transportation." - Fred Eisenberger, Mayor, City of Hamilton
Official launch celebration
The official launch celebration will be held this morning:
Date: Thursday, July 27, 2017
Time: 10:30 am
Location: 541 Eatery and Exchange, 541 Barton Street East, Hamilton
Funding
The Everyone Rides Initiative is funded through by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (Green Municipal Fund), with additional funds from the Losani Family Foundation Fund through the Hamilton Community Foundation, and the City of Hamilton.
“Bike share is for everyone, however, not everyone is aware how to access bike share or that it is a resource they could benefit from. The Everyone Rides Initiative is making Hamilton Bike Share more equitable by removing the barriers that may prevent people from accessing the service.” - Thea Jones, Program Manager, Everyone Rides Initiative
Quick facts
- Including the 12 hubs launched as part of the Everyone Rides initiative, there are now 131 SoBi hubs in Hamilton. The new hub locations will fill gaps in the bike share system in key neighbourhoods under the Neighbourhood Action Strategy.
- The 75 new bikes will stand out from the existing blue three-speed bikes. They will have a special “inverse” white paint job and eight speeds.
- New hub locations will be installed at:
- Barton Sreet East at Lottridge Street
- Barton Sreet East at Ottawa Street North
- Barton Sreet East at Westinghouse Avenue
- Belview Avenue at Barton Sreet East
- Cannon Sreet East at Belview Avenue
- Dunsmure Road at Sherman Avenue South
- Gage Avenue North at Cannon Sreet East
- King Sreet East at Dunsmure Road
- Maple Avenue at Rothsay Avenue
- Mars Avenue at Wentworth Street North
- Ottawa Street North at Dunsmure Road
- Sherman Avenue North at Barton Sreet East
- As part of the celebration, a community sidewalk mural will be unveiled. The mural was created in partnership with local artists Lester and Norman Coloma, L'Arche, and Hamilton Bike Share.
- The SoBi Hamilton bike share system launched in 2015. The City of Hamilton purchased the bikes using Metrolinx “Quick Wins” funding. The City partnered with Social Bicycles to operate the system. Hamilton Bike Share is the local not for profit that was subcontracted to operate the system.
Additional resources
- Visit www.hamiltonbikeshare.ca
“City transportation staff are excited to be supporting the first bike share equity program in Canada and one of the leading programs in North America. It is important for bike share programs to provide public transportation for all residents who wish to access it and reduce their use of personal automobiles.” - Peter Topalovic, Project Manager, Sustainable Mobility Programs & Program Manager, Hamilton Bike Share, City of Hamilton