urban bikes in Paris
#1
mriley
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: California
Posts: 73
Bikes: vintage Schwinn
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
1 Post
urban bikes in Paris
An interesting article in the Sept. 22 issue of the Economist about urban rantal bikes in Paris (and elsewhere). I have transcribed one paragraph here:
Velib' (for vélo, or bicycle, and liberté, or freedom) has since taken Paris by storm. More than 10,000 bikes have been installed at 750 docking stations, which is half of the scheme's eventual capacity, says Jean- Francois Decaux, the sone of the [company's founder]. The bicycles have been used by 4m people so far, who have clocked up 100,000 rides a day. Last week Jean-Francois was in Moscow for talks with the mayor, who is keen to introduce a similar scheme there. The mayor of Chicago also expressed interest in importing Velib' diring a recent visit to Paris. [end of excerpt]
The article goes on to say that a one-day pass costs 1 euro ($1.30), with weekly and monthly passes available. Rides must be short - you can't keep the bike. There is a 150 euro security deposit. Credit cards only.
Has anyone (a British reader presumeably) used one of these? What kind of bikes are they? Sounds like a great scheme for the city.
M Riley
Velib' (for vélo, or bicycle, and liberté, or freedom) has since taken Paris by storm. More than 10,000 bikes have been installed at 750 docking stations, which is half of the scheme's eventual capacity, says Jean- Francois Decaux, the sone of the [company's founder]. The bicycles have been used by 4m people so far, who have clocked up 100,000 rides a day. Last week Jean-Francois was in Moscow for talks with the mayor, who is keen to introduce a similar scheme there. The mayor of Chicago also expressed interest in importing Velib' diring a recent visit to Paris. [end of excerpt]
The article goes on to say that a one-day pass costs 1 euro ($1.30), with weekly and monthly passes available. Rides must be short - you can't keep the bike. There is a 150 euro security deposit. Credit cards only.
Has anyone (a British reader presumeably) used one of these? What kind of bikes are they? Sounds like a great scheme for the city.
M Riley
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,117
Bikes: ANT Club Racer, 2004 Trek 520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In general, they seemed rather popular, being ridden by a mixture of tourists and everyday Parisians running errands. Nobody wore a helmet. In the times that I had ridden around Paris, I would say 75% of the bikes that I saw were Velibs. It looks like the program is off to a good start, and I wish them all the best of luck with it and hope that the meme spreads.
edit -- also for North American tourists visiting Paris, you need a smart chip enabled credit card to activate a Velib. Supposedly, they're working on some way where you can buy a temporary pass if you don't have a smart chip card, but this was not yet available when I was visiting.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 524
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
And the best part of this story?
Chicago's mayor Daley wants the same thing (if somewhat scaled down) in Chicago. I can't wait, for the simple reason that the more bicyclist car drivers will see, the more they will take their presence as a given and act accordingly (at least 99.9% will). That makes for a safer commute for me...
See editorial on story here:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/servic...,4455520.story
Duppie
Chicago's mayor Daley wants the same thing (if somewhat scaled down) in Chicago. I can't wait, for the simple reason that the more bicyclist car drivers will see, the more they will take their presence as a given and act accordingly (at least 99.9% will). That makes for a safer commute for me...
See editorial on story here:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/servic...,4455520.story
Duppie
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 1,035
Bikes: Gerry Fisher Nirvana, LeMond Buenos Aires
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It is nice to see that progress can be made even if it takes time. My last visit to Paris was around 1989. Back then cycling in Paris was considered an act of insanity. The city was just starting to put bike lane markings on the road, but frequently they appeared to be nearly in the middle of the road and were laughed at my many as being useless and silly and would only get a cyclist killed. Fast forward nearly 2 decades and I have seen various articles showing that the new bike "sharing" program has been far MORE successfull that hoped. I look forward to a future visit to Paris with my wife and daugher, maybe we will be able to ride around on bikes we well. That would be nice.
If the French can make such dramatic improvement... maybe we can make progress here in the USA as well.
Happy Riding,
André
If the French can make such dramatic improvement... maybe we can make progress here in the USA as well.
Happy Riding,
André
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 4,063
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I think I saw exactly three guys biking in Paris in two weeks when I was there. Everyone else was using a smart car or a motorcycle.
Maybe I was there at the wrong time of year.
Maybe I was there at the wrong time of year.
#7
Student
Join Date: May 2007
Location: MPLS
Posts: 253
Bikes: Trek 2300, Trek 6500, Old Puegot Course, Specialized Tarmac Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
These bike rentals are not unique to Paris, I also know that Brussels has them.
#8
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Was there only 2 summers ago... Saw cyclists everywhere... Not a lot, but people on bikes none the less. The guy that impressed me however was the cyclist in the middle of the traffic circle (about 4 deep) near the Arc'd Triomphe at rush hour. Now that was uh, shall we say ballsy.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,117
Bikes: ANT Club Racer, 2004 Trek 520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Was there only 2 summers ago... Saw cyclists everywhere... Not a lot, but people on bikes none the less. The guy that impressed me however was the cyclist in the middle of the traffic circle (about 4 deep) near the Arc'd Triomphe at rush hour. Now that was uh, shall we say ballsy.
The thing that I hated most about Place Charles De Gaulle (the rotary with the Arc D'Triomphe) was that it was surfaced with cobblestones. Shoulder checking for cars on that was ... interesting. I also saw a 60 year old guy on a Velib unflappably negotiate that rotary as the very picture of French grace and elan.
#10
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times
in
1,041 Posts
I have seen a report that the crafty Parisians are renting the bikes to ride on the downhill leg of the journey and taking the metro uphill!
TCS
TCS
#11
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hi!!
You can read some informations here :
https://www.en.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche
Here you can see a phot of a "Velib" :
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Velibvelo1.jpg
The bike have 3 speed (nexus), a hub-dynamo (front and rear lights), a front panner, mud guard...
They are made by "Lapierre"
The bikes ride very good but they are a little too heavy ->23 kg!! but in Paris there aren't a lot of hills so the weight is not a big problem.
Here you can see a little video of a free ride with a vélib!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afE44cHNkEg
You can read some informations here :
https://www.en.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche
Here you can see a phot of a "Velib" :
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Velibvelo1.jpg
The bike have 3 speed (nexus), a hub-dynamo (front and rear lights), a front panner, mud guard...
They are made by "Lapierre"
The bikes ride very good but they are a little too heavy ->23 kg!! but in Paris there aren't a lot of hills so the weight is not a big problem.
Here you can see a little video of a free ride with a vélib!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afE44cHNkEg
#12
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times
in
1,041 Posts
I've read the info and I'm intrigued: a collective bicycle transit scheme run like a business in competition with other modes of tranportation.
10,000 Velibs would be one bike for every 200+ Parisians. You gotta start somewhere.
What happens if you get bike-jacked or wreck your Velib?
How long can you keep one?
TCS
PS - Say, did anybody ride P-B-P on one this year?
10,000 Velibs would be one bike for every 200+ Parisians. You gotta start somewhere.
What happens if you get bike-jacked or wreck your Velib?
How long can you keep one?
TCS
PS - Say, did anybody ride P-B-P on one this year?
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,117
Bikes: ANT Club Racer, 2004 Trek 520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What happens if you get bike-jacked or wreck your Velib?
How long can you keep one?
PS - Say, did anybody ride P-B-P on one this year?
Last edited by spokenword; 09-27-07 at 12:10 PM.
#14
Full Member
Hi!!
Here you can see a little video of a free ride with a vélib!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afE44cHNkEg
Here you can see a little video of a free ride with a vélib!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afE44cHNkEg
#15
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times
in
1,041 Posts
#16
always rides with luggage
I saw rental bikes like this all over when I was in Oslo (Norway, for the geographically challenged) last month. Interestingly, they had a larger rear wheel than the front. They looked a bit like a Terry mixed with a Stingray or something.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
#17
Sumanitu taka owaci
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,945
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
An interesting article in the Sept. 22 issue of the Economist about urban rantal bikes in Paris (and elsewhere). I have transcribed one paragraph here:
Velib' (for vélo, or bicycle, and liberté, or freedom) has since taken Paris by storm. More than 10,000 bikes have been installed at 750 docking stations, which is half of the scheme's eventual capacity, says Jean- Francois Decaux, the sone of the [company's founder]. The bicycles have been used by 4m people so far, who have clocked up 100,000 rides a day. Last week Jean-Francois was in Moscow for talks with the mayor, who is keen to introduce a similar scheme there. The mayor of Chicago also expressed interest in importing Velib' diring a recent visit to Paris. [end of excerpt]
The article goes on to say that a one-day pass costs 1 euro ($1.30), with weekly and monthly passes available. Rides must be short - you can't keep the bike. There is a 150 euro security deposit. Credit cards only.
Has anyone (a British reader presumeably) used one of these? What kind of bikes are they? Sounds like a great scheme for the city.
M Riley
Velib' (for vélo, or bicycle, and liberté, or freedom) has since taken Paris by storm. More than 10,000 bikes have been installed at 750 docking stations, which is half of the scheme's eventual capacity, says Jean- Francois Decaux, the sone of the [company's founder]. The bicycles have been used by 4m people so far, who have clocked up 100,000 rides a day. Last week Jean-Francois was in Moscow for talks with the mayor, who is keen to introduce a similar scheme there. The mayor of Chicago also expressed interest in importing Velib' diring a recent visit to Paris. [end of excerpt]
The article goes on to say that a one-day pass costs 1 euro ($1.30), with weekly and monthly passes available. Rides must be short - you can't keep the bike. There is a 150 euro security deposit. Credit cards only.
Has anyone (a British reader presumeably) used one of these? What kind of bikes are they? Sounds like a great scheme for the city.
M Riley
But I'd rather own my own bike.
Over in the States, unless it has a motor, people don't know how to make it go...
__________________
No worries
No worries
#18
tired
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 5,651
Bikes: Breezer Uptown 8, U frame
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
True, but if you found yourself in a pleasant city with no bike but time for a leisurely ride, you know you'd go for it...
__________________
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
#19
driving sucks
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Michi-indy-ana
Posts: 75
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
edit -- also for North American tourists visiting Paris, you need a smart chip enabled credit card to activate a Velib. Supposedly, they're working on some way where you can buy a temporary pass if you don't have a smart chip card, but this was not yet available when I was visiting.
Is there a site in English somewhere that clearly explains how a tourist can obtain a Velib? Can't seem to find one in the first few I checked.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,117
Bikes: ANT Club Racer, 2004 Trek 520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I can't believe that the hundreds of people I saw riding them, many tourists, all owned smart cards
Is there a site in English somewhere that clearly explains how a tourist can obtain a Velib? Can't seem to find one in the first few I checked.