TORONTO – Bell Media’s Astral Out-of-Home division has helped save Toronto’s cash-strapped bike share program Bixi Toronto.
As part of its ongoing commitment to the City of Toronto and its residents, Bell Media agreed to convert future expenditures designated for the Coordinated Street Furniture Program's automatic public toilets to support the program. Bell Media's decision will assist the popular program to continue operating.
“Astral Out-of-Home has worked closely with the City of Toronto for the past seven years, and with the support of Bell Media we are pleased to help ensure the continued operation of the City's bike share program," said Ron Hutchinson, vice-president of real estate for Astral Out-of-Home, in the news release. "Bell Media has made this decision because of its commitment to support solutions that are beneficial to Toronto's residents and city streets."
The Toronto Coordinated Street Furniture program was launched in 2007 and provides essential street furniture elements including transit shelters, litter/recycling bins, newspaper bins and corrals, information/wayfinding pillars, public posting columns, bicycle racks and benches. The program is fully funded by advertising and the 20-year contract has a value of $915 million for the City of Toronto in street furniture, repairs, maintenance and capital expenditures.
