More bikes, longer season for àVélo program 

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

The racks are being installed in some 165 locations around the city for a May 1 start for the fifth season of the popular àVélo bike-rental program.

The Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC), which manages the àVélo program, announced several changes at a recent news conference at the Charlesbourg campus of Cégep Limoilou, where bike stations will be added this year.

Besides the stations at the college, about 50 stations will be added in five zones in the city – Le Plateau, Saint- Rodrigue, des Jesuites, du Vieux-Moulin and des Châtels. With the 500 additional bikes for these stations, the total fleet will number 1,800.

The àVélo season will be extended by two weeks this year, with 60 stations near bike paths remaining open until Nov. 15.

Passes and rates remain the same this year, with the addition of a 24-hour pass to allow users to make several trips during the day.

Subscriptions go on sale as of April 30. The first 100 customers to sign up get a free helmet.

For further information on the àVélo program, visit aveloquebec.ca.