Peter Black
April 3, 2024
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
peterblack@qctonline.com
Quebec City’s wildly successful àVélo electric bicycle rental program is rolling into the suburbs.
The Réseau de transport de la capitale (RTC) last week announced a huge expansion of the service, adding 40 new stations, 520 bikes and 900 anchoring slots.
The new stations are destined for strategic spots in neighbourhoods in Loretteville and Vanier, and in the Saint-Louis, Plateau, Saint-Rodrigue and Vieux-Moulin districts.
The RTC is also responding to complaints about a lack of àVélo stations at the popular new beach on Promenade Champlain. Two stations with a total 52 anchorages will be installed.
The 2024 additions will bring the RTC’s total àVélo network to 115 stations and 1,300 bicycles. The program is in its fourth year, with last season seeing a major surge in usage, particularly during the Festival d’Été.
At the March 25 announcement of the bike rental expansion in Loretteville, Mayor Bruno Marchand said, “The success of the àVélo service no longer needs to be demonstrated. People across the city want to be able to access this easy, available and efficient service whenever they want it. It’s also about thinking about mobility in a different way. It was essential for our administration to deploy this new network so extensively so that more and more people can travel within our territory.”
Rental fees will rise by five per cent to help pay for the expansion. For example, an annual membership with a base of 30 minutes goes from $114 to $120. A 30-day membership with a 30-minute base rental goes from $31 to $33. There is also a daily rate for out-of-town visitors. Don’t forget to bring your own helmet.
Executive committee member and RTC president Maude Mercier Larouche said in a news release, “The success of àVélo continues to increase year after year, and the benefits are major. In addition to having a direct impact on [greenhouse gases] and promoting modal transfer, àVélo offers flexibility, contributes to the population’s active lifestyle and reduces road congestion.”
For details, visit rtcquebec.ca/en/rates-and-purchase/rates-and-passes/fare-schedule.
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The city is adding 40 more àVélo bike rental stations.