flanso 

Bike rentals are a new Paris fashion according to this article in the 7/13/2008 issue of the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/wo...yt&oref=slogin

tulip

I was there in May and was quite impressed with the network of bike lanes and the multitudes of bike riders, thanks largely to Velib. It was not at all like that when I lived there in 1999. Time to move back, perhaps.

Grim

Very interesting!! I love how the cagers respond to it. Little do the get that the more cars off the road the easier it will be fore them to get around. It just has to hit that thresh hold.

OPC

Anyone else make note of the specs? 50# pounds and $3,400. Those things are tanks.

coldfeet

They would need to be to survive as a rental vehicle.

OPC

Indeed, they make the point of mentioning what their design target is for yearly milage. Not saying that they're over-designed, just making an observation.

tulip

They do get treated harshly. People also tend to leave them at the bottom of hills, and so the staff of Velib has to redistribute them every once in a while. But it's such a great addition to the city, I'm so happy the program is available.

wheels53

New in Paris not NY. I've seen the ugliest wicked witch of the west type bikes in my area. Some guy was throwing out one out in the suburbs and I picked it up. Came back into the city area and sold it for $100. The breaks were shot, tires were worn out, and many parts were rusted. Some dude up the block has one, along with his France flag out the window. This is ******** America. Love it or Leave it.