Bixi was doomed from the start. Again, a classic case of fitting a foreign (European) mentality on North America.
This one was seen from a mile away and when the city extended loans the skeptical reaction to it was justified.
Montreal has reworked its already tight streets to include bike baths and stations that suck up parking spaces and probably local business sales. It's a nice idea, but their vision wasn't viable. The target market is narrow and restricted to small portions of the city.
It's a trendy novelty here. if you live and work in the downtown core, sure, it makes all sense. But if you're coming in from the suburbs there's but basic option: Train and/or car and walk. No one in their business suit is going to fork over cash to ride a bike.
The other thing is, why not just buy a cheap bike? In the long-run it makes more economic sense.
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Speaking of green, the irony is that it was supposed to drive the American economy into the 21st century. It'sl looking like new technologies and innovation in, of all things, oil and gas is going to make America more energy sustainable.
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