MONTRÉAL, Nov. 9, 2026 /CNW/ — Following a 2026 season marked by the expansion of its network and several big events, BIXI is continuing its year-round service for a fourth winter, from November 16, 2026, to April 14, 2027. Thanks to support from Loto-Québec and in response to users’ growing interest in winter cycling, the network will be expanded this year to include a total of 267 stations, stocked with more than 2,600 bikes, spread across three cities.
BIXI has continued to expand and has multiplied its initiatives
As bike-sharing continues to grow everywhere, BIXI responded to the rising demand in 2026 by expanding its network to seven new cities: Chambly, Boisbriand, Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Sainte-Thérèse, Dorval, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, and Montréal-Ouest. The service was also expanded in several municipalities already served, including Laval, Longueuil, and Saint-Eustache. As a result, the network now includes more than 1,100 stations and 13,000 bikes, 3,500 of which are electric-assist bikes. Two new BIXI stations have also been installed at the Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Sunnybrooke stations of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), thereby facilitating intermodal travel between different modes of transportation.
Following the success of this innovation in the mobility sector last year, the bike-sharing service opened three new Carrefour BIXI at key locations in the network: the University of Montreal, Jean-Drapeau Park, and the École des technologies supérieures (ETS). These join the four already in place, continuing to enhance the experience for BIXI riders on the ground.
The 2026 season was also marked by several initiatives and events. In collaboration with Loto-Québec, BIXI launched “L’art en mouvement,” an initiative that transformed 16 bikes into works of art featuring the colours of four local artists and turned 16 BIXI stations into mini-galleries across Montreal. These bikes were used an average of 15% more than the iconic gray ones and turned the BIXI network into a true open-air art gallery. In addition, BIXI enhanced its AMI BIXI program, which rewards users who help maintain the network’s balance, thanks to the addition of Wealthsimple as the exclusive partner for its fleet of electric-assist bicycles. One user will even be awarded nearly $121,000 by the partner as a result of their BIXI rides.
In September, BIXI stepped up its efforts for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships by rolling out a major initiative to enhance its network and make it easier for Montrealers and visitors to get around. More than half a million trips were taken on the network from September 20 to 27, thanks to the 120 stations located near the competition, 17 of which were staffed with valets. Finally, on October 5, BIXI rides were free in support of the 2026 provincial elections.
In 2026, more than 667,000 people used a BIXI bike in one of the network’s 20 cities, which is equivalent to one in three Montrealers. In the annual survey of these users, 92% said they were satisfied with the services provided by the bike-sharing operator.
“We are proud of how far we’ve come this year. Our goal is to continue expanding BIXI and extend our network throughout Quebec. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our teams and partners–especially Loto-Québec–for their invaluable contribution,” said Christian Vermette, General Manager of BIXI Montréal.
New areas now accessible for the winter network
This winter, the network will expand to Montreal, with a presence in 11 of its boroughs, in addition to the cities of Westmount and Montreal-Est.
The LaSalle borough will join the network with its first station and the Jean-Drapeau Park will now be more accessible, with two stations providing year-round access to the area. In total, the network will have 267 stations, equipped with 2,600 weather-resistant bikes and 15% more docking stations than last year.
“Seeing the winter cycling network grow year after year is particularly inspiring. The fact that more and more people are incorporating cycling into their commutes, even in winter, shows that this practice is becoming a lasting part of their routines. “At Loto-Québec, we’re proud to help make this option accessible and appealing to a growing number of people,” said Marie-Claudel Lalonde, Vice-President, Social Responsibility and Marketing at Loto-Québec.
This initiative is directly in line with our commitment to making bike-sharing more widely available so that as many people as possible can use it throughout Quebec, all year round.
Winter cycling is becoming a regular part of people’s lives
Since its launch, BIXI’s winter service has continued to gain traction and even change the travel habits of Montrealers.
Furthermore, the results of a survey conducted by BIXI among its users also show that winter cycling keeps gaining ground. Not only is the number of users trying the service continuing to grow, but they are also becoming regular cyclists and loyal to the service. The proportion of respondents who had already cycled in winter rose to 69% in 2026, double the figure from BIXI’s first full year of operation.
“In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in interest in year-round service and a real democratization of the practice. The statistics only confirm BIXI’s growing role in the mobility ecosystem on the Island of Montreal, even during the winter season,” concludes Christian Vermette, executive director of BIXI Montreal.
Finally, BIXI would like to take this opportunity to thank its valued partners who helped make these achievements possible: Loto-Québec, the presenting partner; Fizz; Wealthsimple, the exclusive partner for electric BIXIs; Beneva; and Rachelle Béry.
About
BIXI Montréal is a non-profit organization managing bikes sharing services in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, Sherbrooke, Westmount, Mont-Royal, Montréal-Est, Dorval, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Montréal West, Boucherville, Sainte-Julie, Saint-Lambert, Chambly, Terrebonne, Saint-Eustache, Deux-Montagnes, Sainte-Thérèse, Boisbriand et Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac. In 2026, the BIXI network includes more than 13,000 bicycles, including 3,500 electric bikes, at 1,180 stations in 20 cities. Montreal has the largest fleet of electric bikes in Canada, and one of the largest in North America.
SOURCE BIXI Montréal
