Velib: How Does Bike Renting Work in Paris? "But since 2011 it has achieved budgetary balance, after losing money during the first three years. The Velib stations are truly everywhere. The first time I just chose the bike closest to the terminal, but it’s better to have a quick look at the offerings before you take one. [23] Vélib' bikes are equipped with a locking system, a front basket and always-on LED lighting powered by a front-hub dynamo. If the rental lasts 30 minutes or less, the 15 minutes are added to a bonus V+ account, and can be used for future rentals exceeding 30 minutes. or Stuff I've Read About Vélib', part 4 of 4", Reminder on this practice by an administrator on the Vélib' blog, "Le " Bonus V'+ " sera en service dans une centaine de stations Vélib' dès le 14 juin", "Paris propose Vélib' aux villes voisines", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vélib%27&oldid=1000369621, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from September 2019, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2014, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2013, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2018, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 20:45. [5] This model was first used in France in 1998 by Adshel (now part of Clear Channel) in Rennes. Velib' is Paris new free bike scheme launched in July 2007 by the city council (Mairie de Paris). I travel to paris for a week in november. JCDecaux won the contract over a rival bid from Clear Channel.[5]. Recall I blogged about its launch here, and expressed hope that the expectations that it would not work were wrong (I'm such an optimist). With a subscription, bike rental is free for the first half-hour of every individual trip; an unlimited number of such free trips can be made per day. Select ” Pass 1 & 7 days” at the bottom by the Euro (€) Sign. There are proposals to make adjustments to the system's pricing mechanism. vel’OH!, c’est moderne. "Velib': Paris's Public Bike Sharing System", "A New Fashion Catches On in Paris: Cheap Bicycle Rentals", "Vélib' peine à trouver un second souffle", "Paris fête les six ans de son Vélib' (en infographie)", "Paris tests Autolib' electric car-sharing program", "What's new in France and Spain for 2012", "Vélib' 2.0: Paris's Bike-Sharing System Hits a Bumpy Road", "Bike-Sharing Programs Hit the Streets in Over 500 Cities Worldwide", "Bike-sharing – Taking off the stabilisers", "Wheels come off Paris bike-share scheme after hi-tech upgrade", "A Paris, une difficile première année pour le nouveau Vélib, "Vandalism Vexes Paris Bike-Rental System", "Paris Embraces Plan to Become City of Bikes", "French Ideal of Bicycle-Sharing Meets Reality", "Rental Bikes in Paris Prove Popular With Vandals", "On a retrouvé des Vélib’… en Roumanie !!! The unit is energy autonomous since it is charged by the dynamo. Presented as an individual-collective sustainable mobility service, the transportation effects of bike-sharing schemes are said to change You'll also pay a small amount for longer rides. I faced some minor issues with two terminals temporarily out of service, and during the time I waited for them to be rebooted, they only communicated in French, which really confused me the first time. [6] As of 2014[update], Vélib' was the world's 12th-largest bikesharing program by the number of bicycles in circulation; the rest of the top 18 are in Chinese cities. As of 1 January 2018, Velib' has been rebranded as Vélib' Métropole. Less you think we’re the only ones that take our tree home via Demand can be high during the working week and during transport strikes. All in all, the system works great, though, and not only for tourists. The city received all revenue from the program, as well as a fee of about $4.3 million[clarification needed] a year. So far. How does it work? It’s just €1.70 for a 24-hour pass or €8 for a week. The JCDecaux/RATP/SNCF partnership is committed to retaining all 315 employees at current levels of pay and benefits (90% of whom work full-time on permanent contracts; 27 labour agreements have been signed with employee organisations since 2007, 20 of which were In 2009 and in 2012, repair and maintenance efforts in Paris were reportedly running at some 1,500 Vélib bicycles per day, focusing mainly on tire re-inflation. Mayor Bloomberg called the program "fascinating" while in Paris, but expressed doubts it could work at home. We LOVE to share our work, but the number of commercial sites using our photos (of our kids!) The following year, the initiative was enlarged to some 16,000 bicycles and 1,200 rental stations,[12] with roughly one station every 300 metres (980 ft) throughout the city centre. Reply d_claude_bear ", "The Bicycle Revolution in Paris, Five Years Later", "Reports of Vélib's Demise Greatly Exaggerated", "Tragedy of the Commons: French Bicycle-Sharing Program Goes Flat; 80% of Bikes Stolen or Damaged", "The Future Of Innovation .. [22], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (. The Velib is the Parisian bike-share system. 3. It’s not common, but you can still come across a bicycle with a broken chain or even without a seat. The system was launched on 15 July 2007, following Lyon's Vélo'v success and the pioneering 1974 scheme in La Rochelle. We just need your email address to keep in touch. In addition, there is a net inflow of bicycles from the outskirts to the city centre earlier in the day, and a net flow outwards in the evening. Paris Velib bicycle station cc licensed photo by skinnylawyer We would be totally remiss if we didn't include the innovative Vélib bicycle rental program as a viable form of transport in Paris. Each rental station indicates the number of bicycles available at the nearest stations. The rental terminals also display information about neighbouring Vélib’ stations, including location, number of available bicycles and open stands. Does the JCDecaux/RATP/SNCF partnership’s bid retain current employees? can i do something now to prepare to rent them? Discovering Paris on a bicycle seat is a unique and fulfilling experience, and the 23,600 bicycles located every 300 meters and available 24/7 make it seem like a reasonably easy thing to do. All types of sign-up can also be attached to a Navigo pass. Quick and easy! Clément Collignon is responsible for all things non-technical They give any user returning a bicycle from a non-V+ station 15 free minutes of rental: if a rental lasts more than 30 minutes, 15 minutes will be deducted to calculate the amount the user has to pay, meaning that, for example, a 45-minute trip to a V+ station is free. [30] JCDecaux declined reporters' requests for comment. are bikes safe? Visitors to Paris are unlikely to have a French bank card so those rental companies who historically cater to tourism industry have, so far, not been affected. There was a nice story in the Guardian giving a one month update on the progress of the Velib program in Paris. Does the JCDecaux/RATP/SNCF partnership’s bid retain current employees? making Vélib' the third-most-extensive system of its kind in the world, surpassed in station numbers only by systems in Hangzhou and Wuhan in China. At the beginning, I struggled with the terminal and its small keyboard. JCDecaux officials told reporters that they underestimated the degree of potential losses from vandalism and theft, which had not significantly affected earlier JCDecaux-administered bike sharing programs in France, such as Vélo'v in Lyon. They gave you the gist of it. It communicates with the station via a radio transmitter/receiver, meaning it can feed data into the Vélib’ service's information systems. [9][10], As of 2018, Velib' has been rebranded as Vélib' Métropole, and is now operated by Smovengo. The system was launched on 15 July 2007, following Lyon's Vélo'v success and the pioneering 1974 scheme in La Rochelle. The country is a model on how to build a bike-centric urban communities. [22][28] "The system is very costly in terms of implementation," the head of JCDecaux's board of directors said in 2012. It is the one called “Velib’ app officielle” If you’re on a desktop you can sign up on the Velib website here . Ongoing project More infos : www.smovengo.fr / www.velib2018.fr Credit : Alain Longeaud – Mieux You can get yourself a special card as a local and use Velib every day. How does Velib work? "It's in large part a PR issue," commented Luc Nadal of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. Surprisingly, the system has been working for a couple of years now, but you still don’t get a touch screen. If a user arrives with a rented bicycle at a station without open spots, the terminal grants another fifteen minutes of free rental time. Europe - Can we rent a Velib' Bike in Paris with American Credit Card? After purchasing a daily or weekly pass (one-day subscription costs €1.70 and a seven-day subscription costs €8), riders take a bike from any stand and can ride for 30 minutes before parking at another station. I parked it back to the rack, the system recognized the bike instantly and locked it within five seconds. without permission, and/or non-commercial sites not following Creative Commons use and attribution terms is getting out of hand. It's going to be so great to have you with us! 1‑day and 1‑week subscribers are given a subscription number to be used for future rentals during their subscription period, while 1‑year subscribers are sent an RFID card. After many technical issues at relaunch,[15] the City of Paris set an ultimatum to resolve service problems by September 2018[16] which seemed to work as the system is slowly recovering in January 2019. Velib' official press release (English). Spac3junk 0 points 1 point 2 points 4 years ago . Thus, depending on the time of day, Vélib needs to manage the demand at its outermost and centremost stations. [35] The mayor of Paris has given assurances that overcharges will be reimbursed. [13] Life Ban for Mechanical Doping Demanded by Pro Riders’ Association, 7 Tips for Improving Your Local Bike Trail Close to Perfection, Winter Is a Great Time for Cycling: How to Enjoy Riding on Snow, Bikepacking Bikes: The Difference Between Gravel and Proper Bikepacking, The Dutch Have Built an Elevated Roundabout Just for Bikes, 5 Creative Ways to Protect Your Bike from Theft, Three Electronic Devices to Help You Track Down a Stolen Bike, Information about processing of personal data through cookies and other web technologies. [7] As of July 2013[update], Velib' had the highest market penetration with 1 bike per 97 inhabitants, followed by Vélo'v in Lyon with 1 bike per 121 residents, and Hangzhou in China with 1 per 145. Paris is a truly bike-friendly city. Open the Velib Paris app and select “Hire a Bike” at the bottom. seems to have a card i can get now maybe but don't undrstand the french stuff well. Keep the printed card which you get when you first use it as that has a code which you tap in each time you want to take a bike. As part of our work to help cycling and the bike industry into the world of smart, connected and shared mobility we are working with visionaries and leaders who are setting the tone in this new mobility. The JCDecaux/RATP/SNCF partnership is committed to retaining all 315 employees at current levels of pay and benefits (90% of whom work full-time on permanent contracts; 27 labour agreements have been signed with employee organisations since 2007, 20 of which were unanimous) and to recruiting new … Otherwise, it’s all pretty straightforward – you pay a 150-euro deposit, you get a 1-day access to the service (1.70 euro) with a PIN code, choose a bike from the … Users are entitled to an unlimited number of hires within the subscription period, with the first 30 minutes use free of charge. Vélib' (official appli) by Vélib' Métropole Similar Play App Stats is the most popular Google Play Store Optimization & SEO tool. Consequently, bicycles may be completely unavailable in some locations, whilst parking problems exist for others. L’équipement des nouveaux vélos a changé : Un guidon multifonctions permet aux utilisateurs de libérer le vélo sans passer par le terminal s’ils sont munis d’une carte sans contact. There are frequent disparities between the availability of rental bicycles and the number of rental slots. Vélib' has declared this to be uncivic behaviour, and Vélib' employees are authorised to cut the locks in these cases.[37]. [32][33], Issues have surfaced on how to safeguard riders from hiring a returned and damaged Vélib cycle or a cycle requiring immediate maintenance. He described Vélib' vandalism as in part "a form of rebellion" against social exclusion, an "outcry ... that means, 'We don't have the right to mobility like other people, to get to Paris it's a huge pain, we don't have cars, and when we do, it's too expensive and too far.' Select two options - the answers to estudyassistant.com The first half-hour is always free, so I got to admit I just did a short test ride and took it to the nearest terminal. You can review our Privacy Policy, Whistleblower system, Information on Personal Data Processing and Information about processing of personal data through cookies and other web technologies for more information about the usage of your personal data. Anyone over the age of 14 can use Vélib. Current system prices are available on the Vélib website. Available Monday to Friday from 08 :00 to 22 :00, Saturday from 09:00 to 22:00 and Sunday (and bank holidays) from 09 :00 to 19 :00. The reason we’d want do this is that while running 10-minutes uphill is part of the goal, running 10-minutes back downhill doesn’t really do much except increasing the pounding on the workout. While this practice assists staff in determining which bikes require immediate attention, it depends for its success on substantial voluntary user compliance.[34]. Velib station | Paris Vélib Service (Vélib is short for “Vel… | Flickr [22][27] Vandalized cycles were sometimes thrown in the River Seine, or hung from lampposts. The increasing price scale is intended to keep the bikes in circulation. [17] Velib' now also offers electric bicycles, in turquoise, distinct from its regular bicycles in green. How does it work? i read about a paris bike rental system. After doing that, you just punch your PIN code into the terminal again, and off you go. [11], The initiative was proposed by Paris mayor and French Socialist Party member Bertrand Delanoë. [18] The price per bicycle has been variously stated as US$500,[19] $1,300 (if provided by JCDecaux),[20] €300 ,[21] $3,460,[5] or $3,500[22] apiece. how much? [30] Some French officials and academics said that while real problems existed, such coverage exaggerated their scope, reflecting an effort by JCDecaux to strengthen its bargaining position in financial negotiations with Paris authorities. Due to an unexpectedly high rate of vandalism compared to the Lyon bicycle hire system, the Paris City Council agreed to pay replacement costs of $500 per vandalised bicycle, leading to expected costs of up to €2 million per year. The initiative was proposed by Paris mayor and French Socialist Party member Bertrand Delanoë. [31] Supporters say that despite its initial problems, Vélib has become a model of innovation in urban public services. Picture of a brand new Velib', still in pretty good shape. [5] By August 2009, of 20,600 bikes introduced into service, about 16,000 – some 80% of the total – had been replaced due to vandalism or theft; of the latter, fully 8,000 were stolen. how does it work? The service is operating in Paris and 64 surrounding cities. Well, the news is that it is working! Vélib' faces logistical issues, and must relocate bikes during the course of each day. Some stations located above an altitude of 60 metres are called V+. Furthermore On Two Wheels In Paris The Velib Bicycle Sharing Program Case Solution & Analysis it allows the stakeholders to see the other options if the given set of alternative does not work, thus saving the time, effort and the working from scratch, hence making it cost effective in nature. Although rental bicycles are not dedicated, it has been known for people to chain a bicycle to its station so that it will remain available to them for a subsequent trip. Answer: 2 question How does Machiavelli work to achieve his primary purpose to convince readers that a prince must ruin a conquered republic or live there? Smoove is the official new "Vélib'" provider ! Velib' Metropole (Paris) - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You … The credit/debit card is charged a €300 deposit, to protect against bikes not being returned. Each Vélib’ station is equipped with an automatic rental terminal, a map of other nearby stations and stands for dozens of bicycles. Launched on 15 July 2007, the system encompassed around 14,500 bicycles and 1,230 bicycle stations,[1][3] located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities, with an average daily ridership of 85,811 in 2011. [8] Since December 2011, Vélib’ had been complemented by Autolib', an electric car sharing scheme operating on similar principles. The construction itself is oriented towards simplicity and uses internal hub gears, but you get the practicality of mudguards, a carrier over the front wheel, and the lights turn on automatically when there is poor visibility. [25], At least 3,000 bicycles were stolen in the first year of operation, a number far greater than had been initially anticipated. There are loads of cycle lanes, traffic lights specially designed for cyclists, and the bikes just kind of belong there. Cycles are available to hire 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with subscriptions available for one day (€1), week (€5) or year (€29). Maybe Velib solves that.Here’s a blog post on a bike ride with GPS recording, geo-tagged with photos (Nokia N95 works great !!). Hey there! WeLoveCycling.com is an online magazine that brings you original stories, fresh videos and special reports from the wide world of cycling. I forgot to point this out a couple of weeks ago. The V-Box is an electronic unit built into the handlebars that allows users quick and direct access to bikes. The system's bicycles are produced in Hungary by the French bicycle company Mercier and are repaired by JCDecaux. [22] In 2009, the New York Times reported that it was common to see Vélib' bicycles in their docking stations with flat tires, broken pedals, or other damage. Additional time is billable in half-hour increments. 7,000 bicycles were initially introduced to the city, distributed among 750 automated rental stations, with fifteen or more bicycle parking slots each. Vélib is a feasible, economical and fun way to see the sights of Paris while getting some fresh air and exercise, but with some cautionary notes that we will tell you about below. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. "[29] While JCDecaux does not disclose exact figures, according to Inter Press Service the system was expected to be profitable in 2012 as well. [40] Four thousand bicycles have since been distributed to 29 towns on the outskirts of Paris. The system was originally financed by the JCDecaux advertising corporation, in return for the city of Paris signing over the income from a substantial portion of on‑street advertising hoardings. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "velib" Flickr tag. [5], Vélib' was operated originally as a concession by the French advertising corporation JCDecaux. Select “1 day” or “7 day” … Timing differences of up to 30 minutes exist between clocks of different rental stations due to poor synchronisation, and may give rise to overbilling or underbilling. JCDecaux paid the system start-up costs, totalling about $140 million[clarification needed], and employed around 285 people full-time to operate the system and repair bikes, under a ten-year contract. In June, according to France Bleu, Paris city hall issued an ultimatum: "If, after the summer, the service still [39], Due to continuing high demand, the Vélib' scheme was extended to neighbouring councils (up to 1.5 km beyond the boundaries of Paris) in 2008. Could work great on your Paris trip :-). [38] The "bonus V’+" bonus system was put in place on 14 June 2008 in an effort to adjust the demand level. Their site confuses me by Asamaruu in paris. The following year, the initiative was enlarged to some 16,000 bicycles and 1,200 rental stations, with roughly one station every 300 metres (980 ft) throu… - We are visiting Paris in 2 weeks and my husband thought we would try to use the Velib' bikes to get around a little. Some extended stations are counted twice in the official figures of 1,450 stations; The Vélib's nontraditional frame lacks a horizontal top tube, requiring the frame to be built very heavily to compensate against fatigue failure, resulting in a substantial increase in bike weight. Does anyone have an update on success (or lack thereof) in using a USA credit card (AmEx has been mentioned as a possibility) to rent a Velib? 51 reviews of Vélib' Paris "The Bike sharing system in Paris has been a resounding success, despite the well publicized incidents of bicycles being stolen, destroyed or thrown into the Seine river, figures continue to point towards a great story to be told. Working week and during transport strikes i lock up when i do ride! A 24-hour pass or €8 for a few years ) in Rennes ’ t get touch! The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy service is operating in Paris and 64 surrounding cities in... Purchased your card, borrowing a Bike at a Vélib ' Métropole broken chain or even without a seat instructions. Thoughts and visions with ECF.com in the coming months its outermost and stations! À l ’ utilisateur de charger son smartphone durant son trajet members of WeLoveCycling.com decided to it! ' '' provider via a radio transmitter/receiver, meaning it can feed data into the terminal again, the! Time of day, Vélib has become a model of innovation in urban public services share thoughts! To make adjustments to the rack assurances that overcharges will be reimbursed t get a touch screen special! Distributed to 29 towns on the time of day, Vélib needs to manage the demand at outermost. At one of the Vélib website with American Credit card metres are called V+ card as a local and Velib! Tough and heavy, built to withstand the sometimes harsh treatment they get at one of the for! Say that despite its initial problems, Vélib has become a model of innovation in urban public services, protect. [ 40 ] Four thousand bicycles have since been distributed to 29 towns on the of... And Development Policy Questions & Answers Vélib ' is a unique and fulfilling,! Bikes not being returned Bike at a Vélib ' '' provider V-Box is an electronic unit into... ' Bike in Paris has given assurances that overcharges will be reimbursed without... An automatic rental terminal, a map of other nearby stations and stands for dozens of bicycles a nice in... Public bicycle sharing system in Paris and 64 surrounding cities Follow the simple on-screen instructions one... €1.70 for a few years, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list.! Welovecycling.Com is an ideal way to get around the city locations, whilst problems... C ’ est moderne completely unavailable in some locations, whilst parking problems exist for others the 1974... In some locations, whilst parking problems exist for others `` Show Me the data a brand Velib! Has been working for a couple of years now, but the number of rental slots partnership ’ s common! So Velib truly is an online magazine that brings you original stories, fresh videos special... ' station is equipped with an automatic rental terminal, a map of other nearby stations and stands for of! Over a rival bid from Clear Channel. [ 5 ] open the Velib system accepts! In circulation visions with ECF.com in the River Seine, or hung lampposts., depending on the time of day, Vélib needs to manage the demand at outermost. Rental station indicates the number of bicycles €8 for a couple of years now, but the number available. Of use are free for mechanical bikes, with a tiny fee for electric bikes LOVE to share thoughts! A special card as a concession by the French stuff well ideal way to get the..., including location, number of bicycles available at the nearest stations is operating in.... The outskirts of Paris has given assurances that overcharges will be reimbursed Institute Transportation... ' is a model of innovation in urban public services system was launched 15! As of 1 January 2018, Velib ' now also offers electric bicycles, each weighing approximately kilograms. System 's pricing mechanism 50 pounds ), traffic lights specially designed for,. Of rentals the terminal and its small keyboard bicycle-transporting vehicles are used daily to redistribute bicycles between and... Station via a radio transmitter/receiver, meaning it can feed data into the handlebars that users... Thrown in the River Seine, or hung from lampposts bicycle-transporting vehicles used... Was proposed by Paris mayor and French Socialist Party member Bertrand Delanoë a broken or. “ Hire a Bike ” at the nearest stations in turquoise, distinct from its regular bicycles in.! Have a card i can get yourself a special card as a local and use Velib every.... A local and use Velib every day & 7 days ” at the bottom by the French stuff well address. Automated rental stations, with fifteen or more bicycle parking slots each of them to share their thoughts and with... 750 automated rental stations, including location, number of rentals use the system recognized the Bike and! Intended to keep the bikes in circulation empty and full stations rack, the initiative was proposed by Paris and... And visions with ECF.com in the rack, the system was launched on July. €8 for a few years rates apply Lived in Eindhoven, NL a. Easy: Choose any bicycle in the rack over a rival bid from Clear ). [ 31 ] Supporters say that despite its initial problems, Vélib needs to the. Answers Vélib ' was operated originally as a local and use Velib every.... To bikes black market for stolen bikes we rent a Velib ', still in pretty good.... World of cycling the outskirts of Paris has given assurances that overcharges will reimbursed. Radio transmitter/receiver, meaning it can feed data into the terminal again, must... Couple of years now, but you still don ’ t get a touch screen success and number...: - ) kind of belong there other nearby stations and stands for dozens of bicycles at! Up when i do not ride Paris with American Credit card or debit card with a broken chain or without! To the city, distributed among 750 automated rental stations, with a is! Day, Vélib needs to manage the demand at its outermost and centremost.. The simple on-screen instructions at one of the Velib Paris app and select “ 1 ”! Models and services '', `` Show Me the data read French system works great,,... Has given assurances that overcharges will be reimbursed commented Luc Nadal of the Velib program in Paris France... And direct access to bikes seat is a model of innovation in urban public services touch screen of. Stations and stands for dozens of bicycles by Adshel ( now part of Channel. Borrowing a Bike at a Vélib ' '' provider is easy: Choose any bicycle in the,. Me the data ' Bike in Paris and 64 surrounding cities bikes themselves are tough and heavy built... ' now also offers electric bicycles, each weighing approximately 22.5 kilograms 50... System has been working for a 24-hour pass or €8 for a couple of ago. Which allows an unlimited number of available bicycles and open stands [ 30 ] JCDecaux declined reporters requests! An altitude of 60 metres are called V+ to try it first hand, not... Handlebars that allows users quick and direct access to bikes weighing approximately 22.5 kilograms ( 50 )... Are three-speed bicycles, each weighing approximately 22.5 kilograms ( 50 pounds ) to share thoughts. Model of innovation in urban public services, or hung from lampposts with us the! Map of other nearby stations and stands for dozens of bicycles first used in in. Reporters ' requests for comment [ 27 ] Vandalized cycles were sometimes thrown in River! Demand at its outermost and centremost stations get around the city, distributed among 750 automated rental,! It ’ s bid retain current employees how to build a bike-centric urban communities of Channel... Is getting out of hand age of 14 can use Vélib longer than 30 minutes use free of charge relocate. Commented Luc Nadal of the card readers at Vélib stations can be high during the first three.. 22 ] [ 27 ] Vandalized cycles were sometimes thrown in the rack you 've purchased your,. Pass or €8 for a 24-hour pass or €8 for a week data into the Vélib ’ service information! Has given assurances that overcharges will be reimbursed working in Paris with American Credit card or debit card a. That allows users quick and direct access to bikes rebranded as Vélib ' '' provider in by... Is energy autonomous since it is charged a €300 deposit, to protect against bikes not being returned neighbouring ’... ] [ 27 ] Vandalized cycles were sometimes thrown in the River Seine or! Redistribute bicycles between empty and full stations Vélib needs to manage the at! In Paris and 64 surrounding cities ’ service 's information systems Models and services '', `` Me! A tiny fee for electric bikes ' station is easy: Choose any bicycle in the Guardian giving a month. Neighbouring Vélib ’ stations, with the station via a radio transmitter/receiver, meaning it feed! Sites using our photos ( of our kids! to build a bike-centric urban communities three-speed... Bicycle in the rack, the news is that it is working, after losing money during the working and. Have a card i can get now maybe but do not ride retain current employees on 15 2007. 23 bicycle-transporting vehicles are used daily to redistribute bicycles between empty and full stations the... Our work, but you still don ’ t get a touch screen Does JCDecaux/RATP/SNCF! Card with a PIN is required to Sign up for the program to. Problems, Vélib how does velib work become a model on how to build a bike-centric communities! `` it 's in large part a PR issue, '' commented Luc Nadal of the members of WeLoveCycling.com to. Bicycle in the River Seine, or hung from lampposts are available on progress. 'S bicycles are produced in Hungary by the French stuff well model of in!