Thousands of bikes in Paris

[GreenCharlotte]

Hi !

I have to share with you the big project set up by the Mayor of Paris, names "Vélib'".

First, good news, the mayor of Paris has a clear goal : to reduce the number of cars in Paris. It began with bus lanes, and with the closing of the lanes along the Seine (closed for the cars, but you can go with your bike, of by feet, or with rollers), etc...

But since the 14th of July, a big service of bike hire has been set up. The names of the service is "Vélib'", as I said above.(The word "Vélib'" is the contraction of two words : "Vélo" which means "bike" and "liberté", which means ... "liberty" !).
This project is amazing : there is hundreds of stations, where you can borrow a bike, and then you can give it back wherever you want in Paris (in another station, of course). You don't need to buy a bike, and you don't fear for your bike to be stolen ... !
Plus, the price is very attractive : you pay 29€ to subscribe to the program, and then the first half an hour of every trip is free ... !!
So you can borrow a bike, ride for 25 minutes, stop at a station, give your bike back, and then borrow another one for another 25 minutes !!!

Since the beginning, 2 weeks ago, the bikes have invaded Paris, and due to the huge success, a lot of stations are empty ... !!! This is a big step in the battle against cars, and I hope the experience of Paris will encourage another cities ...

I have subscribed to it, and even if there is some problems (due to computer problems, but it's just the beginning, so it's natural ...), it's a big success. Plus, you meet a lot of people, everybody is helping each other, it's very convivial !!!

If you come to visit Paris, don't forget to use it ... !

Charlotte

[Corey]

Wonder who paid for those bikes and who will actually return them? Idea is to share but knowing humans the majority won't and will take the bike and still drive there car instead while they hang on to the bike. Since I am not in the UK or Paris I do not know the fine details as to ensure that people actually share.
How do the Authorities recover bikes that are not returned? How is the loss of a bike recovered to replace it with a new one?

I am clapping for Paris Efforts I think its great that they are actually making an effort.

[CapGhG]

Hi Corey...I don't know for sure but I suspect those bikes are sturdy but relatively cheap since they're probably bought in bulk. I like the idea and I think it has many benefits other than the global warming issue....which surely is the most important. Another is the fact you don't even have to be concerned that someone will steal your bike when you park it.

I think its tax money well spent and I hope it will mushroom into a worldwide business. (a government business that is).

[90% by 2030]

Hi Charlotte,

We happened to be in Paris on the 14th July, and saw the council putting the bikes out. Looks like a great scheme.

All the best
90

[Corey]

It will be intresting to see how they deal with unreturned bikes. if people do not return them then they are not available for the next. Will the council or who ever over sees it just buy more? if they were to do that then it is an extra burden on the tax payers for someone else's abuses.

Don't get me wrong I am for the Method. I am just wondering how we will deal with the human factor and its greed "mine not yours or ours" mentality that seems to be rampant.

If we could learn to share en-mass this would work perfectly.

[GreenCharlotte]

Originally Posted by Corey

It will be intresting to see how they deal with unreturned bikes. if people do not return them then they are not available for the next.

In fact, when you subscribe to Vélib, you have to leave a deposit (150€), so if your bike is not back after 24 hours, they cash your cheque ... !
This is all the system is about : you are responsible for the bike to borrow. If you have an accident, or if you damage it, you have to call the service. And when you borrow a bike, you also have to be sure it's in good condition, otherwise if there is a problem you could be taken as responsible ...

Plus, the bikes are quite heavy (22 kg), so that you only take it for a while, and not for a long ride ...because the idea of Vélib is to use bike as means of transport, so instead of taking a bus or the tube, you will take a bike ...
And that is why the first half an hour is free : to encourage you to give the bike back after a short time, so that everyone can enjoy it ... !!

It really works ! People are very happy, and you can see a lot of different people using it : young people, business man (they're funny with their suits), ... I'll show you pictures soon !

Charlotte

[Corey]

That's good so they do cover the cost. Seems they went in with their eyes open to the regards of human nature possessiveness.

Now if we could just get things like that going here in the USA. Yet it may not work as well here due to obesity and the spread-out nature of our cities.
Also with the general laziness of our Americans.

[tantor]

Hi!

There has been a similar, though smaller, service here in Helsinki (capital of Finland). City bikes can be borrowed around the city center by paying two euros, which you get back when you return the bike to a bike stand.

It works but it could work much better. First of all those bikes provided by city are heavy and uncomfortable to ride and that's why people use those bikes in situations when they would otherwise walk, use public transport or take a taxi.

Cycling conditions in Helsinki aren't best. In our climate you can bicycle comfortably from april to october. Cycling around the year is possible but it needs guts and special gear such as tires designed for winter conditions. Roads for cycling here aren't good either. We have plenty of cycling lanes, but those are built stupidy and not really a part of city's traffic planning. It leads to the situation that in many cases we have to bicycle on the streets in the middle of heavier traffic (cars). It can be scary and difficult to someone, though you do not need to be a professional bicycle messenger to do it. Anyway, it's not nice with those city bikes, which are heavy and slow.

Environmentalist group Maan ystävät (Friends Of The Earth) is organizing bicycle demonstrations to get better cycling conditions here. Is there bike demonstrations for better cycling lanes etc. in anywhere else?

[Mr.Joshua]

This is a brilliant idea! Generally, if the common man is empowered with something to call its own, it will be revered and respected.

Take Bryant Park in New York: the park has tons of expensive portable chairs all over the park. Park visitors could easily take the chairs, but no one chooses to. They love having their freedom of choosing a place to sit.

Another example are the luggage carriers at airports.

I suppose [and hope] that these bikes will need a special visual identity such as a noticeable decal or stand out color or design so anyone would recognize the bikes as the velib bikes.