Bikes in Paris

[wafflycat]

Thousands of these Velieb bikes in Paris. Brilliant. Loads of banks of parking for them. Just pick up a bike - cycle where you need to - leave bike at destination in nearest Velib parking - and they are all over the place. Paid for by the length of time you use the bike.

Built in dynamo lights, basket for a bit of load carrying, chain guards so you don't get dirty clothes... they were in use all over the place.

 

[Maz]

It looks great. Have you used them?

I read in a local Cambridge paper (maybe Cab can enlighten us) that they're thinking of introducing a similar scheme there. They tried it about 20 years ago, and most of the bikes got nicked on the first day.

 

[wafflycat]

No, didn't use them on this occasion. This visit to Paris was pure romance between husband & self. Loads of err... well... *romance* and loads of walking arm-in-arm taking in the sights and sitting in cafes drinking coffee, wine...

It was *lovely*

 

[magnatom]

Was anyone else using them. There seems to be a lot of unused bikes in the picture!!

Oh and do they come with a helmet camera...

 

[spindrift]

Waffy had a dw!

 

[Haitch]

We were in Paris a couple of weeks ago and many people were using the bikes. The only thing that stopped us having a go was that you had to register your credit card and leave quite a hefty deposit (perhaps 100 euros) somewhere. Seemed like a good idea for people who regularly used them (pick up and leave anywhere in the special bike racks all over town) but not for passing tourists.

 

[wafflycat]

Loads of the bikes in use. Exceedingly popular. Many a parking rack empty as all the bikes were in use. And you see loads in use too

 

[wafflycat]

Waffy had a dw!

Indeed she did! And she enjoyed every minute of it!

 

[Tynan]

read something about these, there's a depot at the top of some big hill that's always empty and one at the bottom of said big hill that's always full