Thursday, July 18, 2013

Happy birthday Velib!

I can still remember the day I told you about Velib, this bike sharing system that the Paris town hall implemented throughout the city to stimulate the use of non polluting vehicles (instead of cars and motorbikes). Well, it's been exactly 6 years, as Velib celebrated its 6th anniversary last Monday... One thing is sure; it's a success! More than 250 000 Parisians subscribe to the service on a yearly basis, one Velib is rented every second within greater Paris and the oldest user is... 88 years old! Tourists also use it, of course! Look at the chart they have here if you can read French. As for me, well I tried it once, about 5 years ago, but never since the!  

8 comments:

  1. 88 years young! Cycling is a great way to get around.

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  2. I remember when you posted about it 6 years ago. I thought it was a terrific idea then, and it still is!

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  3. they finally started a bike share in NYC just 5 weeks ago.
    A fellow blogger just posted about it:

    http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2013/07/citi-bike-share-system-becoming-more.html


    I can't wait to someday try your system in Paris!

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  4. Actually some New Yorkers have found out that you don't need to rent the bikes at all to get a work out. So they are using them to do impromptu spinning sessions!

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  5. Chicago just started our own bike share program this month. The bikes look the same. I haven't experienced it because I live in the city and ride my bike all the time. We get lots of tourists and they seem to enjoy biking to explore the city since we have a great lakefront park to explore.
    Chicago is getting bike friendly with more and more bike lanes and a revision of bike laws in favor of bikers. It is amazing to see how many people bike to work every day!

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  6. I have never been on one and probably never will if my wife is with me - unless they introduce tandem velos!
    Now there's an idea for the city of love to consider. :-)

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  7. I too can remember when you first posted about velibs. It brings back fond memories, I can tell you...! I mean PDP memories much more than Velib ones.
    I sometimes rent a Velib. It is a great service ! I should use it more often. It is so sunny at the moment in Paris. I have no excuse.

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  8. The idea for velibs was pure genius! I hope our newly launched (2 months ago) Citibike program will be as successful. Judging from the number of people I see riding around town on bright blue bikes, I'd say so far, so good.

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