Calgarians can get a free first or last mile of travel near select LRT stations, in a new partnership with e-mobility companies.
Starting on Friday, 10-minute e-bike or e-scooter trips will be offered for free to and from eight Calgary Transit LRT stations.
Bird Canada will operate from Heritage, Southland, 45 Street and Crowfoot LRT stations, while Neuron will have rides for the Barlow/Max Bell, Franklin, Rundle and Saddletowne LRT stations.
Both Bird Canada and Neuron will fund the service under new, five-year permits that were awarded through a competitive RFP process, the City of Calgary said. It’s an extension of a 2023 pilot project where similar service was offered at three LRT stations over a four-month period.
“The pilot customer survey data suggested that more than 70 per cent of users reported that having free e-scooters and e-bikes at the station increased their use of Calgary Transit, and that it saved time and increased the convenience of using transit,” said Andrew Sedor, Mobility Initiatives Leader, with the City of Calgary, in a prepared release.
Along with the new program, new, dedicated e-scooter and e-bike parking spaces are located near the stations to decrease clutter.
“We learned from the pilot that customers needed dedicated spaces at the stations to pick up and drop off the devices,” Sedor said.
“We want to avoid any e-bikes or e-scooters blocking pedestrian paths or Transit operations.”
Customers will have to use the company’s apps to access the free 10-minute trip. After the 10 minutes, regular fees apply.
End of trip photos will be sent to both companies to ensure that sidewalk or wheelchair ramps aren’t blocked.
