In its transportation plan Réinventer Montréal , the Ville de Montréal wanted to provide different means of getting around Montréal. Given its immense popularity in Europe, the Ville de Montréal decided to make a public bike system one of the measures included in the plan. BIXI is viewed as a complement to the public transportation system and as an alternative to the car for residents and tourists throughout the city. The mandate to create, develop and exploit this new service was entrusted to Stationnement de Montréal.