Hamilton's year-old program allowing cyclists to take the bus up the James Street Mountain Access for free has become so successful that the city will make it permanent and add two other access routes for cyclists to use.

The Mountain Climber pilot program has seen a "healthy but not overwhelming number of users," minimal impact to transit operations and a positive response from cyclists, staff stated, adding that it has lost only about $600 in revenue.

The program allows cyclists to board buses at designated stops on James Mountain Road/West 5th Cut for a free ride up or down the escarpment.

Staff recommended at the June 4 public works committee meeting that the program continue on the James Street Mountain access, and that it be expanded for cyclists to take a bus up the Kenilworth Access and Beckett Drive. Both do not have paved shoulders and there are no planned cycling lanes for the roads.

It will cost the city about $2,100 in capital expenditures for the two new pilot programs and it is projected transit will lose about $600 in revenue for each new climber program.

"I'm delighted to see the climber pilot extended to the Kenilworth Access for a very small amount coming out of the department budget," Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson said. "I think it will have a tremendous success."

Ward 4 Coun. Sam Merulla also applauded the program's expansion. He said all cyclists, and not just those using Hamilton Bike Share's blue bikes, should be accommodated by the program.

"It is something that is unique and has received national attention," Merulla said. "We could look at other accesses, including going into the Stoney Creek area."

Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead said he's also pleased with the program but it is concerned it's limited.

He said students attending Mohawk College are using the program to get up the escarpment. But he said the problem with the climber is there is space on the rack to handle only two bicycles.

"There are limitations," Whitehead said. "If you have four people waiting, you are not having access to the system. But it is a start."