The Evolve e-bike sharing program will start up operations in Nanaimo next week, with a soft launch planned for Wednesday, May 1. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

pay and ride

Popular e-bike sharing program launching in Nanaimo

Apr 26, 2024 | 3:48 PM

NANAIMO — Capable of going upwards of 25 kilometres per hour, a new network of shareable e-bikes is debuting in the city.

Evolve, a program run through BCAA and already in place in several major centres, will start offering publicly rentable e-bikes through a soft launch on Wednesday, May 1, with a more widespread rollout two days later.

Leanne Buhler, senior manager of Evolve e-bike and scooter share, told NanaimoNewsNOW around 50 bikes are expected beginning next week, increasing to around 100 during the peak summer season.

“Those bikes will be around town in what we call ‘parking zones’…there’ll be between 15 and 20 stations this year as we ramp up into the season. You’ll see them start coming online over the course of the next week.”

Infrastructure is being put in place through several areas of Nanaimo including the downtown, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Bowen Park and University Village Mall.

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Several stations are also being installed along the E&N Trail and Old City Quarter.

“With the parking zone structure, we like to try to get a nice combination of residential neighbourhoods…then all of those places people like to connect between their home and commercial areas,” Buhler added. “Parks, major destinations, recreation centres, commercial zones, shopping, all those kinds of things.

The branded-blue “parking zones” are already setup in many areas throughout Nanaimo, including along the waterfront walkway. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Payment and unlocking of the bikes is done through a smartphone app.

Users register an account and keep a credit card number on file, then scan the bike they want to use at a parking zone.

Trips are billed at 35 cents per minute plus a $1.25 bike unlocking fee and must be both started and terminated at one of Evolve’s parking zones.

A ride from downtown Nanaimo to the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre would take roughly 10 minutes and cost around $5.

Hourly and monthly rates are also available for heavy users.

Buhler said there are obvious concerns regarding vandalism and other damages to their bikes, however several steps are in place to make them less attractive to thieves.

“If they’re not on a trip the wheels lock and they’re a very heavy bike, a 90 pound bike, which is a deterrent in itself to try and move off site. The parts on the bike and the device, it’s all proprietary…these parts can’t be used on consumer grade bikes.”

Methods of locking wheels and using proprietary equipment have proven effective in past rollouts through Vancouver, Burnaby and Whistler.

Buhler said the bikes aren’t even locked to the racks in the parking zones.

A local contractor has been hired to provide maintenance and support for everything from vandalism to flat tires.

“They’ll be changing the batteries when they get too low, maintaining the bikes throughout the week and that will make sure the bikes are ready for everybody to use.”

Bikes will be available for use at the following locations:

• Downtown Nanaimo: Wallace St. and Commercial St., 1 Port Dr., 126 Front St. (opposite Port Theatre), Gabriola Island Ferry Terminal, Museum Way, 309 Wesley St., 366 Selby St. and Diana Krall Plaza (in June 2024)
• Maffeo Sutton Park
• Harewood: Fourth St. and Howard Ave., Fourth St. and Bruce Ave., University Village Mall
• Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
• Bowen Park
• 478 Caledonia Ave.
• Along the E&N Trail at Brooks Landing and Terminal Park Shopping Centre

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