Great news... after issuing an REOI (Request for Expressions of Interest) for a Public Bicycles Project in April, Toronto is moving ahead... with one item on the agenda (page 27) of the June 3rd Public Works and Infrastructure Meeting (PDF file) being to negotiate with the Public Bicycle System Company:
The General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that:
City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation
with the City Solicitor, to undertake negotiations with the Public Bicycle System
Company, as the sole respondent to the City’s Request for Expressions of Interest which was pre-qualified as a potential vendor capable of offering a public bicycle system not dependant on advertising within the street right-of-way, to develop a proposal to implement and operate a Toronto public bicycle system at no cost to the City and, if successful, to report back in Fall 2009 on a proposed draft agreement, in order to launch a public bicycle system in Spring 2010.
I am a bit wary of this, personally... if the agreement will be during this upcoming Fall... there doesn't seem to be enough time to set up a well thought-out and bug-free system by Spring 2010. Montreal's Bixi was a few years in the making.
I'd personally prefer to see the City take their time on this to make sure it's done correctly, rather than rushing it through to appease environmental or cycling interests.
What do you think?
Labels: infrastructure, news
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