Bicycle, Paris

I have written another travel tip about hiring a bike in Paris, which is something that I'd still like to do.

On my most recent trip to Paris, I walked the length of Canal St Martin from just east of Gare de l'Est to where the canal joins the Seine, a distance of about 4km. It was a glorious early autumn day that was perfect for cycling, and I was deeply envious of people sailing by on their bikes.

If it's your first time cycling in Paris (and particularly if you come from a country which drives on the other side of the road) I would start on the dedicated cycle paths - along Canal St Martin and the banks of the Seine for example - before you venture forth to play with the traffic! Alternatively, book on an organised tour - I was most amused to be passed by a tour group, where the tourists were being shepherded by two guides - one at the front and one at the back, where the guy at the back of the group was carrying a warning red flag! See the website below for details of one of several operators.

There are numerous bicycle rental station around Paris. There is, probably, one near where you are staying.

These Velib bicycles can be rental at Euro 1,70 per day and the first 30 minutes is free usage. You can make unlimited number of such free trips per day of less then 30 minutes each time.

We didn't rent one of those as we weren't sure where the rental stations were when we first arrived in Paris and when straight to our hotel. With hindsight, might be worth asking the hotel reception about it and as to where is the nearest rental station.

There was one rental station "behind" our hotel on Porte de Saint Cloud on the other street and there was another about 100 metres away.

While walking around in Paris, we came across many people on these distinct grey coloured bicycles.

I believe that Paris is one of the world's most walkable cities, and that by far the best way to explore it is on foot. However, even I will concede that there are times when the distance is too far or the time frame is too limited to make walking practical, and yet the idea of diving underground into the Metro is less than attractive.

I confess that I have never cycled in Paris, but the idea of doing so has always appealed - I just never had an idea of where you would hire a bike. However, on this last visit, I came across this automated bike hire machines along the Rive Gauche (the 'Left Bank' which isn't that helpful to the tourist, as it's actually the southern bank) about halfway between Musee d'Orsay and Notre Dame de Paris.

The photo shows the 'Velib' system (a combination of the French words for bicycle and freedom), which is an innovative concept. At a cost of €1.70 for a day ticket or €8 for a seven day ticket (at the time of writing), you can borrow a bike free of charge for an unlimited number of 30 minute periods per day (with periods longer than 30 minutes incurring an additional charge). There are apparently hundreds of stations across Paris where you can pick up a bike, and as a bonus, you can drop it off at any station (not just the one you collected it at). See the website below for more details.

You need to be realistic about what you get for your money: this is a fairly sedate three speed unisex bike, so you're not going to be tempted to join the peleton down the Champs-Élysées at the end of the Tour de France on the spur of the moment, but these are sturdy, serviceable bikes, and would be a really fun way to explore the city in good weather.

i haver never used it,
but an article in The Chicago Tribune got me surfing
to the Vélib’ Paris site.
Sure will be using it the next time i am there

knowing some FRench will get you quicker to the site

4 more images

The velib' is an acronym for Vélo Liberté (bike freedom)
Since July 2007, over 20 000 self service bikes are available all over Paris (there is a station about every 400 meters). The bikes are unisex and adjustable (fit anybody over 1,40 m)

How does it work ?
First you get a a subscription (to get a user ID):
1€ for one day (24H), 5€ for a week (both available at the stations) or 29€ for one year. There is a 150€ security deposit blocked on your credit card.
Cards accepted : Chipped cards (Visa or Mastercard or Amex).

Then (using your ID), you pick a bike at any station and once you are done with the bike you just put it back at the next station (push it in any docking point, the bikes are chipped and recognized).

The first half hour is free, second half hour is 1€ and so on (there are other systems for longer rentals, for example see www.rouelibre.fr).

You can use a bike as often as you want during your subscription's validity.

The system is very popular for short rides.

In Paris is a good selection of locations renting city bicycles.
Paris is beautiful. The streets are very smooth. Trip by bike is very frequent, relatively fast, clean, and convenient.

Steel as a short term tourist in Paris walkingand public transportation are better options than bicycling. Bicking is best reserved for longer-term residents of Paris, for those staying for several weeks.

To travel about Paris on a bicycle for business or pleasure, you will use a network of bike lanes, often shared with taxis and buses. When no bike lane exists, which is often, bikers ride with traffic.

The Paris City Hall operates a "Velib'" rental program with thousands of three-speed unisex bikes at hundreds of stations or "service points" around the city.
You can jump on a bike parked in one of hundreds of docking stations around the capital and deposit it at another station across town.

You'll pay €1 for a day ticket or €5 for a seven-day ticket, which lets you take an unlimited number of 30-minute journeys. The first half hour of each journey is free of charge, with charges rising progressively after that.

There are bikes around Paris that you can take, and they are just placed in different stations. I think you can take a bikes from one place to another, and it will only cost you if you surpass a certain amount of time. It is a good way to go around Paris and good exercise too!

There is a face of Velib which is rather sad.
Since July 2007 there have been 18.000 degradations, 8.000 thefts, 3.500 complaints at the police, according to the French press.
It goes from warped frameworks, twisted handlebars, punctured tires, broken baskets, etc. even bicycles thrown in the Seine!
J.C. Decaux owner of some 20.000 bicycles put into circulation has a subsidiary company Cyclocity with 500 workers for the maintenance. There are 1.500 repairs per day in 10 workshops. They even have a barge for repairs circulating on the Seine.
As a consequence of the increasing degradations, only 46% of the “Vélibistes” declare to be satisfied with the state of the bicycles, against 55% in 2008.