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The company, operated by the city through the pc28¹ÙÍøParking Authority and in partnership with Tangerine Bank, teased its expansion to the islands .

In late April, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik put forward a motion to extend the bike service to Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point, areas where bike rentals have been controlled by a private company holding an exclusivity contract.

Over the summer, the pilot will allow Bike Share pc28¹ÙÍøto introduce 200 bikes to the islands as part of the pc28¹ÙÍøIsland Park Master Plan, according to a city council .

During the pilot program, Bike Share pc28¹ÙÍøand the Parks and Recreation department will collect data and feedback to help gauge its success for decision-making around future expansions.Ìý

The bikes stationed on the island will be clearly marked and will not be allowed off the island, Bike Share pc28¹ÙÍøsaid , noting details would be released soon.

pc28¹ÙÍøIsland Bicycle Rental was awarded the exclusivity contract in 2017, which is set to expire next summer on Sept. 30, 2026. The company pays $83,000 in annual fees as well as two per cent of its gross revenue, the city says.

The business has been operating on Centre Island for over 40 years and is currently co-owned by Priya Rao, whose parents took over the rental shop 35 years ago after a family friend decided they didn’t want to run it anymore. Since then, pc28¹ÙÍøIsland Bicycle Rental has expanded to offer tandem bicycles and quad-cycles — a four-seat, four-wheel contraption with a canopy for shade.

Rao said she’s excited pc28¹ÙÍøBike Share is coming to the islands and said the ongoing negotiations between pc28¹ÙÍøIsland Bicycle Rental and the City were “amicable.”

“We were actually totally fine with them introducing Bike Share,” she explained.

“In exchange, we just requested an extension to our contract, because we had lost several seasons due to flooding and due to COVID,” she said. “It was a really nice balance of what worked for the city and for tourists.”

With more traditional bikes coming to the island and an extended contract, Rao said pc28¹ÙÍøIsland Bicycle Rental will be able to keep expanding their multi-seat bicycle fleet in the coming seasons.

“They’re so popular and we don’t like to have people waiting for such lengthy time,” she said. “So it works out great for the public. It’s a win all around.”

Rao has spent every summer on the island since she was nine and though she has her own company now, she keeps coming back to see the happiness the bikes bring visitors.

“There’s no reason for me to be working there two days a week but it’s just a joy to be there. It’s one of the only places you can go where everybody’s happy.”

With files from Kristjan Lautens