The Bixi bike-sharing program officially began in Toronto on Tuesday.
Cyclists, including city councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, took part in the inaugural event, a ride along Yonge Street at 11 a.m.
"It is my pleasure to welcome BIXI to the City of Toronto's transportation network," Minnan-Wong said in a statement.
"BIXI is an important part of the city's efforts to encourage cycling. We are confident that this public-private partnership will dramatically increase bicycle trips in the downtown core.''
Bixi allows riders to pick up a bike from a fleet of 1,000 and drop it off at any one of 80 downtown hubs.
That means you can pick up a bike at one station and when you’re done riding, you can drop it off at another.
It costs $5 for a day pass, $12 for a three-day pass, $40 for a 30-day subscription and $95 for a year. The $40 and $95 plans entitles you to a BIXI-key, which you can use to take out a bike at any station in the network.
The $5 and $12 passes can be purchased directly at the station. Provided that the bicycle is returned to a station within allotted 30-minute trip, no additional trip fee is incurred.
The program started in Montreal two years ago and also operates in London, U.K., Melbourne, and Washington, D.C.