Year-round BIXI
At all times, respect bicycle safety rules. BIXI Montréal strongly encourages users to wear helmets and bright colours, to be as visible as possible. Helmets are not mandatory in Quebec on standard bicycles, and although the provincial government enforces the law, helmets are recommended by the SAAQ.
The selected stations are mainly located near snow-cleared bicycle paths, which will make it easier for users to get around.
We also invite users to visit Vélo Québec's L'hiver à vélo page, which provides many tips and tricks on good 4-season cycling behaviour.
Users’ safety is our top priority. The mechanical BIXIs (regular bikes) in the current fleet will be modified with studded tires and non-slip pedals for the winter time. Electric bikes will return in the spring.
Of course, it does! Average temperatures in Montreal from December to February range from -6 to -15. Overall, over the past three years, we've received an average of 200 cm of snow throughout the month of December, which equates to about 6.5 cm of snow per day. We also took the time to contact Chicago, Boston and Washington, as they more or less experience the same reality as Montreal.
The stations will be cleared of snow by BIXI. A 130 cm perimeter will always be cleared of snow around the stations. Some stations will be cleared on a priority basis, depending on traffic. We will also be clearing snow from stations located on private property.
Our snow-clearing plan is based on the best practices of various North American bike-sharing services and their tools. All issues (snow accumulation, ice, glaze) have been studied, raised and will be taken into consideration to ensure cohesion with the city's snow removal teams.