Happy December, Toronto! It’s the season of giving and we’re excited to feature a proud Annual 45 member who prefers Bike Share as their primary mode of transportation to navigate the city. 

Meet Brandon, 

What station do you consider to be your “home station”? Are there other stations that are key to your use patterns and helping you get around the city?

My home station is at Essex & Christie, outside Fiesta Farms. It can often be short on bikes, so we do have to access stations at Bloor & Christie, Shaw & Essex, and Yarmouth & Christie quite regularly.

What would you consider to be the “local gems” or spots you love to frequent in your community using Bike Share? 

The Shaw St bike corridor feels like such a safe space and delightful ride into downtown. I hope more quaint, residential streets can be prioritized for cyclists in the future. Palmerston also stands out for its incredible architecture, low car traffic, and beautiful streetlights at night. It is also great to ride along Queen’s Quay and Tommy Thompson Park. 

What do you love the most about using Bike Share and what value do you find in using the system?

I extoll the benefits of Bike Share to anyone who will listen. I get exercise, get to my destination quicker than car or transit, save considerable money, limit my emissions production, and have access to transportation 24/7. It is great to see the growth in the system and ridership, and I am optimistic that this growing enthusiasm will lead to a stronger and more reliable system in the coming years, particularly one that takes more and more cars off of Toronto’s busy streets.

What made you start riding with Bike Share?

My partner and I moved downtown and had considered whether getting a car or exclusively relying on the TTC was the most convenient or affordable option. Bike Share seemed like a nice alternative, but I would not have predicted it would become my primary and preferred means of transportation. It simply cannot be beaten for speed or affordability. Plus, it got my partner to exercise – a big win!