Originally published August 3, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 3, 2007 at 2:02 AM
E-mail article
Print viewParis bike program pedals toward big success
This year's Tour de France bike race may have been ruined by doping scandals, but a new city bicycle program has made two-wheeled transport...
PARIS — This year's Tour de France bike race may have been ruined by doping scandals, but a new city bicycle program has made two-wheeled transport very popular in Paris for residents and tourists.
The Velib' — short for "free bike" — program launched in Paris in July has been a runaway success for Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, enabling thousands of Parisians and visitors to pedal to work, shops and sights.
Similar systems exist in other European countries, as city administrations struggle to ease both traffic gridlock and air pollution, but the French capital has the most ambitious program.
Some 616,000 users have signed up to be able to pick up (and drop off) bikes at more than 750 points in Paris for daily subscriptions of 1 euro.
About 10,000 bikes are already in place, and Velib' is to double in size by the end of the year with around 20,000 of the sturdy, gray-green bikes and 1,450 pick-up points.
The first half-hour is free, which organizers believe will cover most users, though longer journeys are possible on a mounting scale of charges. For sign-ups and information, see www.velib.paris.fr/ (in French only).
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
E-mail article
Print view
Digg
Newsvine
Leaving the resorts behind in Jamaica
Sweet rental-car deals not so easy to find
A joyous feast in the comeback city of New Orleans
Destinations: Sikkim offers an otherworldly experience to trekkers
Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- Stormy weather to continue today in the Seattle area
- UCLA game thread
937 - Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer 389
- Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment 333
- Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect 286
- Decision day for health care in the House 196
- McGinn widens lead over Mallahan in Seattle mayoral race 183
- Schools emerge as new tactic in gay marriage votes 99
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA 91
- Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working 74
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman 71
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
- Movie review | 'An Education' you won't forget
- Practical Mac | With new features, Apple's MobileMe is worth the price
- H1N1 vaccine for high-risk group coming to King Co. pharmacies
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
