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Green Joyride Sours for Paris' Rental Bikes

Vandalism, theft hurt pioneering program

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 31, 2009 9:32 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A public bicycle-rental program launched in Paris in 2007 amid green good feeling has found reality to be a rough ride. Locals and tourists alike get unlimited access to Vélib’s fleet for about $1.50 a day, but some 80% of the $3,500 bikes have been stolen or damaged. “It’s a reflection of the violence of our society and it’s outrageous,” one Parisian tells the New York Times. “The Vélib’ is a public good but there is no civic feeling related to it.”

The bikes often show up in Paris’ poor neighborhoods, joyridden to death by disaffected youth; others have hit the black markets of Eastern Europe and North Africa. The company behind the program has had to hire a slew of repairmen, but it and the city have no plans to take the bikes off the road, citing some 63 million rentals.

A passerby asks information of a Vélib' employee at a Vélib station in Paris in this 2007 file photo.
A passerby asks information of a Vélib' employee at a Vélib station in Paris in this 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo)
Parisians queue to hire bicycles at a Velib station in Paris, Oct. 18, 2007.
Parisians queue to hire bicycles at a Velib station in Paris, Oct. 18, 2007.   (AP Photo)
A trashed Velib.
A trashed Velib.   (Wikimedia Commons)
A row of Vélib' bikes.
A row of Vélib' bikes.   (Wikimedia Commons)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
super_soft_wizard
Nov 2, 2009 10:19 AM CST
That's about 10 fold over what they need to cost. Probably 40 fold for a cheaper bike at wholesale price.
stuck-in-paris
Nov 1, 2009 7:25 AM CST
the velib is really popular, but I can't understand how they get stolen. You have to enter your credit card to rent them.
cochiserocks
Nov 1, 2009 3:50 AM CST
I'm glad they're not quitting. You always hear about the bad stuff, but what about the 63 million rentals that went well - I just want to know who sold them bikes at $3,500 a pop! I know government is bit dim when it comes to contracts, but that's just taking the piss!

 
crime • tourism • Paris • bicycles • green transportation • V?lib'

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