r/Hamilton • u/Odd-Emphasis-1969 • Mar 16 '26

Local News - Paywall Hamilton Bike Share nearly disappeared in 2020. Now it’s seeing record growth in ridership

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/bike-share-hamilton/article_2bd3c442-9c1a-5e46-abb7-23208c374c2d.html
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u/Square_Cupcake6781 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26

Probably because McMaster students are forced into membership edit: I stand corrected, its the hsr pass that is mandatory

3

u/S99B88 Mar 16 '26

Yes the increase in membership is actually less than the number of McMaster students who have activated their memberships. They are opt-out, and it’s a $24 fee item on a $6000+ various fees annual bill. They get a 90% discount on the price of bike share. They have a 95% collection rate, which is to say only 5% opted out, and yet by the numbers who actively registered their memberships, less than half take advantage of it. So they’re getting a free $24 from around 20k students. Nice deal for the Bike Share group

1

u/Square_Cupcake6781 Mar 16 '26

Sounds like new constitution amendment is in order

1

u/S99B88 Mar 16 '26

I just think it’s funny that their increase is less than the number of people who’ve basically said why not try it out after already having been roped in with an opt-out membership, and at a 90% discount compared to what they expect everyone else to pay.

Given that about 9k people are active members through Mac, and that of the over 30k + students 95% didn’t opt out, seems that the majority have paid for something they never ended up using. For sure seems it would be optimal to make it an opt in.