Checkpoints
Everything behind each step of the timeline.
Complete In progress Still to start
System
The CYKEL platform that runs bookings, bikes and riders.
- Booking and payments live on the CYKEL platform
- Digital waiver and ID check at booking
- Rider app: unlock, extend and return a bike
- Live fleet tracking and crash detection
- Staff dashboard for the store
- Privacy policy for rider data
- Paper back-up if the system goes down
Business admin
The company set up, banked and registered, so the money has somewhere to land.
- Confirm the ownership structure
- Incorporate the company in BC
- Open a business bank account
- Separate accounts for bike money and store money
- Register for GST with CRA and PST with BC
- Accountant and bookkeeping set up
Fleet funding
The C$150,000 Fund-a-Bike round that pays for thirty bikes.
- Fund-a-Bike terms written: a reward, not an investment
- Contributor tiers and perks finalised
- Campaign page and video live
- First bikes pre-committed before launch
- Press and social plan running
- Backer update schedule set through to opening
- C$150,000 raised and the round closed
- Fleet deposit paid to ALSO to secure the bikes
Location
The Denman Street storefront, licensed and ready for a fleet.
- Confirm zoning allows bike rental at the site
- Get the lease reviewed by a lawyer
- Sign the lease
- City of Vancouver business licence
- Sign permit and storefront approval
- Fit-out quotes: counter, racks, workshop, storage
- Battery and fire risk assessment, with charging and storage procedures
- Store insurance in place
- Fit-out finished and signed off
Capital funding
The C$350,000 behind the store: fit-out, launch and working capital.
- Budget re-run on real rent and fit-out quotes
- Investor pack ready: business plan, pro forma, deck
- Bank and BDC conversations started
- Legal advice on how the round is structured
- Accountant confirms GST/PST on contributions
- C$350,000 committed
Team
The people who run the store, hired and ready to train.
- Confirm number of employees needed to hit first-year target
- Confirm roles
- Job descriptions and pay set for each role
- Roles posted
- Interviews held and a shortlist made
- Contracts, payroll and WorkSafeBC registration
- Training plan written
- Team bios added to the site
Vehicles
Thirty ALSO TM-Bs, built to one specification and delivered.
- Fleet price agreed with ALSO
- Spec locked: seats and frame sizes
- Order placed and delivery date confirmed
- Helmet, lock, lights and phone mount for every bike
- Spare batteries and chargers
- Tracking fitted and tested on every bike
- Name plates made for funded bikes
- Fleet insurance: theft, damage and liability
- Workshop tools and spare parts in stock
Experiences
Routes, audio tours and perks, built with local riders.
- Routes mapped and ridden with local riders
- Audio tours recorded
- Challenges set up in the app
- Local perk partners signed up
- Everything loaded and tested in the app
Opening
Doors open on Denman Street for the 2027 season.
- Opening hours and season schedule set
- Prices checked against local rentals
- Daily open, close and charging routine
- Staff trained: bike fit, safety, routes
- Incident and injury plan written
- Hotel and cruise terminal partners lined up
- Beta test: bookings, app and bikes run end to end with real riders
- Soft launch with friends and backers
- Launch marketing campaign live
- Doors open
Dates and dots match the timeline on the campaign page. Ticks save in this browser only — they are a working list, not a status report.