Full pricing plans for Mobi bike share finally released

Pricing plans for Vancouver's bike share program, Mobi,were officially released by the city Thursday morning.

To try it out, prospective riders will have to shell out a minimum of$7.50fora daily pass. That includesunlimited rides as long as it'swithin 30 minutes.

Single 30-minutetrips cost only$2 each, but require a$10 monthly fee.A one-month pass for unlimited 30-minute rides costs $15. The price risesto $20 for unlimited hour-longrides.

Mia Kohout, general manager of theVancouver bike share program, says the citystudied the prices of other bike share programs to come up with Mobi's costs. She says the program is aimed at commuters, rather than recreational users.

"The pricing you see today is based on best practices around other cities inNorthAmerica, particularly other cycle hop cities," she said.

For frequent users, she says monthly rentals are the most economical options.

All the passes require a three-month minimum commitment. Those who go over their time limitswill be chargedoverage fees.

Bike store rentals

Some bike rental store owners expressed fears the city's bike share program would eat away significant parts of their business, particularly with tourists.

Kohoutrespondedby emphasizing the city istargeting local commuters, and it's reflected in their prices.

She says it was told, on average,rental userstend to keep bikes for two-hour spans.

"If you rent a Mobi and you keep it out for twohours, it will cost you $22.50 which is well higher than bike rental operators charge," she said.

Prior to the daily and monthly pricing plans, only a $99, year-long plan was available.

The city saidin a release 3,739 of those have been purchased since the program's launch on July 20.

After its full deployment, a total of 1,500 bikesand 150 stations are expected to be scattered throughout the city.