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However, Sam Shahbakhshi, part owner of Bikes on Robson, sees Mobi’s expansion into Stanley Park as direct competition for tourist dollars.

“Tourists are using Mobi, we have definitely lost business,” he said. “If the city wants to start a bike share, then they should be giving tax breaks to bike rental companies. It’s not fair that the city, who we pay taxes to, is giving away our money to a competing business.”

The bike-share system cost the city $5 million in one-time vendor fees and startup expenses.

Mobi offers annual memberships, which range from $129 to $159, as well as 90-day memberships for $75, and daily memberships, which allow for unlimited 30-minute rides, for $9.75.

It’s the daily plan that Shahbakhshi — who rents bikes for $7 an hour, or $38 per day — has a problem with.

“I think bike-sharing is great for residents. It promotes health and it’s better for our environment. But (the daily plan) is hurting many businesses like ours,” he said.

Photo by Dharm Makwana / PNG

Mia Kohout, the general manager of Vancouver Bike Share, a subsidiary of Mobi’s parent company CycleHop, says Mobi isn’t trying to compete directly with the private bike rental shops.

“We understand that’s been a concern in the past, so how we want to address that is by raising the day pass from $7.50 to $9.75, and we actively encourage any user that wants to go for longer rides to … go to a bike store,” she said. “All the bike rental shops are identified on the Mobi maps so our users can easily find them.”

Although Mobi daily pass holders are charged overage fees of $5 per half hour for rides that exceed 30 minutes, Kohout conceded thatusers could ride all-day as long as they switch bikes at a new station every 30 minutes.