The Bixi bikes will not be available to rent downtown on Canada Day, the National Capital Commission has announced, citing safety and convenience concerns.

The bikes, which are aimed mainly at tourists who visit the national capital region, are situated at 10 downtown stations.

All those stations will be locked Sunday, only allowing for bike drop-off, as tens of thousands of people flock to downtown Ottawa for the annual Canada Day celebrations.

"It's a proactive measure to ensure everybody has a safe and enjoyable experience on Canada Day," said NCC spokesman Charles Cardinal.

"We want to make sure that people don't get into incidents where they would hit a pedestrian."

The Bixi bike locations will be back in full operation Monday.