The city of Montreal says its BIXI rent-a-bike program is so popular, it has decided to roll out phase two of the plan in mid-August instead of waiting until next summer.

The second part of the plan will add 100 new locations and 2000 new bikes in the following neighbourhoods:

  • Mercier/ Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
  • Cote-des-Neiges/NDG
  • Villeray/Saint-Michel/ Park Ex
  • Outremont
  • Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie
  • Southwest borough

It will bring the total number of locations up to 400 and the total number of bikes up to 5000.

"It's really a huge success," said Andre Lavallee, executive committee member responsible for transportation in Montreal.

The city says the program already has 6,300 members since it began mid-May, and it has been used by a total of 46,500 people.