SoBi resurrected: Hamilton’s bike share network is back on the road today

Hamilton's bike share program will be back on the road today.

The popular SoBi bike share network went dark June 1 after the Uber-owned operator suddenly announced it would no longer run the system because of pandemic challenges.

After council rejected using city cash to pay for 2020 operations, community donors stepped up with $400,000 to allow nonprofit Hamilton Bike Share Inc. to save the network - at least temporarily.

But the distinctive blue bikes have been off-limits to the system's 26,500 users for nearly a month as the new operators scramble to deal with the fallout of Uber's quick exit.

The wait is almost over, Chelsea Cox of Hamilton Bike Share said Tuesday morning.

I'm very happy to share that as of noon today the bike share system will be going live," she said via email.

Network users will receive an email announcing the program has been resurrected" as well as instructions on how to resubscribe" to a payment plan.

Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr also confirmed testing" of the revamped system is underway.

Fingers crossed SoBi will be back today," he said Tuesday morning.

He said the month-long delay in restarting the program was due in part to challenges in getting members' accounts transferred to the new operator.

Even after council voted to allow Hamilton Bike Share Inc. to take over the system, the former Uber-owned SoBi operator was still refunding prepaid memberships and announcing a shutdown" of the bike network.

More to come.

Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com