Fast scan for Bike Share Toronto

Fast scan is an optional add-on for Cycle Now. When you tap Unlock bike, it opens Bike Share Toronto straight to the QR scanner instead of the map — so you can scan the code on your bike right away.

Because Bike Share has no way to link directly to its scanner, this needs a tiny separate companion app that presses the on-screen Scan button for you. It only works on Bike Share Toronto, and only when you unlock. It’s completely optional: if you don’t set it up, Cycle Now’s Unlock button works exactly as it always has.

1. Get the companion app

Download and install Cycle Now Scan Helper (v1.0.0):

Download the app (.apk)

Signed by the same developer as Cycle Now. Android will ask you to allow installing it — that’s expected for an app that isn’t on the Play Store.

Samsung phones: if the install is blocked, open Settings → Security and privacy → Auto Blocker and turn it off (or allow this install), then try again.

2Turn on accessibility for the helper

Open the Cycle Now Scan Helper app and tap “Open Accessibility settings.” Find Cycle Now Scan in the list and switch it on.

If the switch is greyed out (Android 13+): Android calls this a “restricted setting” for apps installed outside the Play Store. To allow it:
  1. Open Settings → Apps → Cycle Now Scan.
  2. Tap the ⋮ menu (top-right) → Allow restricted settings.
  3. Go back to Accessibility and turn Cycle Now Scan on.

The helper’s home screen shows a green “✓ Accessibility service is ON” when it’s ready.

3Turn on Fast scan in Cycle Now

In Cycle Now, open Settings → Unlock bike shortcut → Fast scan (Bike Share Toronto) and switch on “Use fast scan.”

That’s it. Tap Unlock bike and Bike Share opens on the scanner.

4Optional: pre-warm Bike Share

In the Cycle Now Scan Helper app you can enable “Prewarm Bike Share when Cycle Now opens.”

When on, opening Cycle Now briefly flashes Bike Share on screen to keep it warm in memory, so the next unlock is a little faster. It’s off by default because of that brief flash — leave it off if you’d rather not see it. It can’t pre-open the scanner (Bike Share closes it whenever it goes to the background).

What it can and can’t see

  • It only ever reads the Bike Share Toronto screen, and only in the few seconds after you tap Unlock (or during the optional pre-warm).
  • All it does is find the Scan button and tap it. It doesn’t read, store, or send anything, and it does nothing in any other app.
  • To turn it off completely, switch off “Use fast scan” in Cycle Now, or uninstall the helper.

Troubleshooting

  • Nothing happens / it stays on the map: make sure the accessibility service is ON (Step 2) and “Use fast scan” is on (Step 3).
  • You land on Bike Share after opening Cycle Now: that’s the optional pre-warm — turn it off in the helper (Step 4).
  • It stopped working after a Bike Share update: Bike Share may have changed its screen. Check back here for an updated helper.
Please note: this is an unofficial, best-effort convenience add-on. It is not made by or affiliated with Bike Share Toronto, Lyft, or PBSC, and it may stop working if the Bike Share app changes. It never affects your ride, payment, or account.