Posted by: Captain Haddock July 18, 2007
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More info on the bikes from this IHT blog:
http://blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/travel/globespotters/?p=95
Bike sharing in Paris: Vélo + Liberté = Velib
Posted by Globespotters in General, Paris
By Katrin Bannhold, IHT Paris
Paris is notorious for its gladiatorial taxi drivers and honking concerts in ubiquitous rush hour traffic jams. But soon the cacophony of road rage may be transformed by jingling bicycle bells and the sight of thick-framed anthracite city bikes flying by the stagnant traffic.
On Sunday, 10,600 inexpensive, easy-to-use rental bikes made their debut at 750 docking stations across town, a figure that is set to double by yearend, making this the most ambitious communal bike program in the world. Whether you’re spending the summer in Paris or are here on a 24 hour work trip, the “Velib” service — for “velo”, or bicycle, and “liberté” or freedom — could well be the cheapest, fastest and most fun way of getting around town
It’s easy: Docking stations have been installed throught the city in intervals of about 300 meters in the city center. Maps of their location are available on the velib Web site, but if you wonder around you are bound to stumble into one. All you need is a credit card and within minutes you’re on your way. When you have had enough or it starts raining, just drop your bike at the nearest docking station.
It’s cheap: A day pass costs 1 euro, a weekly pass 5 euros and a yearly subscription 29 euros, with no additional charges so long as each bike ride does not exceed 30 minutes. (Thereafter a surcharge of 1 euro for the first additional half hour, 2 euros for the second additional half hour and 4 euros for each half hour after that is incurred to ensure that as many bikes as possible stay in the rotation.)
It’s fast: All of Paris’s main museums are within a short cycle ride of each other (15 minutes tops), while public transport often involves changing metro lines or getting stuck in traffic in buses.
It’s fun: There really is no better way of seeing the city of light than to pedal along the cobbled leftbank streets of Saint Germain or the windy pathways in the Marais neighborhood. On Sundays, when the river expressway shuts down for car traffic, you can take your bike directly to the banks of the Seine and cycle all the way from Bastille via Notre Dame and the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower.
Despite the fact that they weigh a 22 kilograms and only have three gears, the bikes run surprisingly smoothly. They are fitted with a metal basket at the front and the seats are comfortable and easily adjustable.
For an authentic Parisian experience rent your Velib on a Friday night at 10pm and join the weekly bike parade that departs from Avenue Victoria for a roaring ride around the city. Click here for more information on that.
A word of caution: Some of Paris’s major traffic arteries — including the famous Champs-Elysées — remain hazardous obstacle courses for cyclists and are best avoided during week days. Bike shops across town sell maps that indicate routes with cycling paths that can help you plan your safest route.
It’s easy: Docking stations have been installed throught the city in intervals of about 300 meters in the city center. Maps of their location are available on the velib Web site, but if you wonder around you are bound to stumble into one. All you need is a credit card and within minutes you’re on your way. When you have had enough or it starts raining, just drop your bike at the nearest docking station.
It’s cheap: A day pass costs 1 euro, a weekly pass 5 euros and a yearly subscription 29 euros, with no additional charges so long as each bike ride does not exceed 30 minutes. (Thereafter a surcharge of 1 euro for the first additional half hour, 2 euros for the second additional half hour and 4 euros for each half hour after that is incurred to ensure that as many bikes as possible stay in the rotation.)
It’s fast: All of Paris’s main museums are within a short cycle ride of each other (15 minutes tops), while public transport often involves changing metro lines or getting stuck in traffic in buses.
It’s fun: There really is no better way of seeing the city of light than to pedal along the cobbled leftbank streets of Saint Germain or the windy pathways in the Marais neighborhood. On Sundays, when the river expressway shuts down for car traffic, you can take your bike directly to the banks of the Seine and cycle all the way from Bastille via Notre Dame and the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower.
Despite the fact that they weigh a 22 kilograms and only have three gears, the bikes run surprisingly smoothly. They are fitted with a metal basket at the front and the seats are comfortable and easily adjustable.
For an authentic Parisian experience rent your Velib on a Friday night at 10pm and join the weekly bike parade that departs from Avenue Victoria for a roaring ride around the city. Click here for more information on that.
A word of caution: Some of Paris’s major traffic arteries — including the famous Champs-Elysées — remain hazardous obstacle courses for cyclists and are best avoided during week days. Bike shops across town sell maps that indicate routes with cycling paths that can help you plan your safest route.