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Launched in 2021 and a Connected Cycle customer ever since, àVélo, the bike sharing service in Quebec City, Canada, answers our questions:
When and how was àVélo born?
Our service took shape in July 2021 after a number of studies aimed at developing our range of services. We started with a small network (10 stations and 100 electrically-assisted bicycles) to test the appetite of users and give ourselves time to adapt for the following season.
How has the service developed in recent years?
The popularity of 2021 confirmed our desire to get around on utility bikes, so we put forward an annual growth plan. By 2022, we would have 40 stations and 400 bikes, and by 2023 74 stations and 780 bikes.
What are the main figures for the service today?
For the enjoyment of our users, this year we are offering 115 stations and 1,300 bikes. Our seasons are from 1 May to 31 October, because our bikes are all electrically assisted and can’t recharge when the temperature is below zero. Our target number of journeys this year is 1.1 million. We have a small service planning team and a larger team to support logistics services via a service provider.
What fleet management issues led you to use Connected Cycle to geolocate your bikes?
We chose GPS-enabled bicycles to make our assets even more secure. This allows us to locate them at all times and to know the actual time of journeys in the event of a claim.
When did you start working with Connected Cycle and how many bikes are you geolocating today?
We’ve been working with Connected Cycle since we started in 2021 and all our bikes have GPS.
How do you use the solution and what benefits do you get from it?
When a bike is in use for more than the time allowed in the terms and conditions, the GPS allows us to locate it and recover it. This prevents bikes from being stolen.
How do you see the service growing over the next few years, and what are the next steps?
We’re delighted to be able to offer further growth in the service over the next 4 years, to reach 330 stations and 3,300 bikes by 2028.
