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Velib, Parisian Bike Share Program
www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/velib-film-paris-france-b...
The public bike share program instituted in Paris, France is the largest in the world.
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Good for Me
Good for me (1/3)
Good for community
Good for the community (1/3)
Good for planet
Good for the planet (2/3)
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Over-hyped
Over-hyped (1/3)
Too expensive
Too expensive (0/3)
Doesn't work
Doesn't work (0/3)
Reviews
2 star rating
March 30, 2009
Shared bikes - on the streets but mainly in the racks
After spending a month in Paris, I can report that Velib bike stands are located all over the city, but it isn't very often that you actually see one on the street. I've seen photographs of empty racks, but the reality was rather different. I spent most of my time in residential neighborhoods close to the university where I'd expect the bikes to be most in demand.
Few of the locals expressed much enthusiasm for the program, either. Apparently the bikes weren't very good to begin with, and are not holding up, a lot of them are in bad shape. There's also a time limit that makes the bicycles inconvenient to use.
I did hear one interesting story about Velib bikes during the last strike that shut down the Paris metro. People happily grabbed Velibs to get to work, but then - in the true spirit of égalité and fraternité - used their own locks to secure them during the day in order to ensure the trip home. Metro strikes can have that effect. (New regulations guarantee a minimum level of service, I was able to use the metro without encountering any delay on the day of a major strike, which was actually a little disappointing.)
Not being an experienced cyclist, I was never tempted to try a Velib. There might be statistics that show a reduction in traffic, but you'd never know it from the road!
Beth's keywords: Paris bicycle sharing
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5 star rating
July 15, 2008
World's Largest Demonstration Bike-Share Program. It's Working!
Imagine a city, a large city, Paris matter of fact, that has saved millions of dollars by providing alternative public transportation to 3 million subscribing Parisians with over 20,000 bicycles, parked throughout the city. So far, bike-sharing has reduced car trips by 10 million kilometers. One bike per two hundred residence is the model, which is working seamlessly with the public transportation that already exists in Pairs, the Metro. Unlimited free half-hours of biking per day (you can do this all day long with the use of a card and stations throughout the city) has provided a public transportation system has become apart of the culture and lifestyle of Parisians. Problems with the bikes and the operation of the stations have proven to be the exception not the norm. Since July 15, 2007 this system of bike-sharing continues to improve. The savings are significant, calculated to be a dollar per kilometer traveled by cycling rather than driving through Paris.
Cris' keywords: bike-share program cycling public transportation alternative transportation Paris France
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User Comments:
Jenn A. says:
Thanks, Ed - I seemed to remember the Euro was a bit higher last summer when I was there! more »
Ed G. says:
Arghhhhh - my original amount for the subscription fee was incorrect. It's 29 euros, or about $48, not 39 euros. Sorry - more »
Ken O. says:
Washington DC has this now. Many big US cities are considering it. more »