Wikipedia
Bixi, officially Société de Vélo en Libre-Service, was a not-for-profit and public bicycle sharing system developed in Montreal, Canada.
After the 2008 implementation of the system in Montreal, Bixi began expanding around the world. Bixi systems are now found across North America. Bixi equipment is used in several Bicycle Share systems in North America, most of which are operated by Motivate. Bixi systems have also been installed in London, England and Melbourne, Australia.
On January 20, 2014, Bixi Montreal filed for bankruptcy. Over the course of 2014, Bruno Rodi purchased the international division of Bixi and renamed it PBSC Urban Solutions. Luc Sabbatini became CEO of the company in January 2015.
The name Bixi is a portmanteau of bicycle and taxi.
Bixi, ( Wade-Giles romanized as Pi-hsi or Bi Xi), is a figure from Chinese mythology. One of the 9 sons of the Dragon King, he is depicted as a dragon with the shell of a turtle. Stone sculptures of Bixi have been used in Chinese culture for centuries as a decorative plinth for commemorative steles and tablets, particularly in the funerary complexes of its later emperors and to commemorate important events, such as an imperial visit or the anniversary of a World War II victory. They are also used at the bases of bridges and archways. Sculptures of Bixi are traditionally rubbed for good luck, which can cause conservation issues. They can be found throughout East Asia in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, and even the Russian Far East.