The Age of Bicycles: City travel in Paris

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A great change is taking place. With gas prices the way they are and the increased number of cars in inner metros, cities the world over are setting up public bicycle rentals to save people the expense of driving a car. Plus, it’s healthier and pollution free. Traditionally, the French offered cars for economy. Do you remember the Deux Cheveau? In its day it was the answer to cheap travel. Then in more recent times a tiny space and gas saving car took its place. I first saw them in Paris but they soon arrived in North America too. It was the answer for a while so I tried it out. Cute? Yes, but not for me. Age, size and habit play heavily on decisions. I enjoy bike riding better. And things were about to change. The idea started in Lyon in 2005 and has spread rapidly in Europe. The velos are available 24 hours a day. The stations are about 300 meters apart. The instructions are written in eight languages. A number of trucks move bikes during the nights to empty stations to ensure that there’s a bike ready for workers in the morning. Since the first half hour is free, you’re transportation for a short distance saves car, bus or metro travel. Using Lyon as an example, Paris embarked on an ambitious project of bicycle rental. The idea caught on and has been expanded to the point that there are now over 20,000 ‘velos’ on the streets at 14,000 stations. They are called ‘Velib’ which is a contraction of velo and liberation. You can go from one place to another on muscle power and leave the bike at your destination. The first half hour is free after which, you can use a credit card as long as it has a European tab on it. Check before you leave home. There are enough bikes at each depot so you won’t be disappointed. For one year, one week or 24 hours, bank cards are optional. Of course the city has created bicycle paths in many places and since there is no restriction as to where you can drive, you can test your skill and nerves by riding around the Arc de Triomphe, which is one of the most hazardous places to drive in all of Paris. On the banks of the Rhone or Soane, office workers and tourists vie for their chance to exercise, see the city and save on gas or metro fares. They also get a good feeling, knowing they are not polluting. Both Lyon and Paris are beautiful cities and often tourists arrive at a train station and rather than look for a taxi or bus, they get their velo nearby. I’ve seen visitors at both Part Dieu in Lyon and Gare de Lyon in Paris drive off with a back pack to see the city by velo. Cyclists are still instructed to wear helmets and drive carefully. The bike path helps as the city’s car numbers increase. Both Lyon and Paris have set the standard for the future and being cautious is the best deterrent to accident. Many other cities have followed suit as the city fathers and private advertising companies join forces to offer the ‘next thing’. Is it the future for all cities? I think not. Maybe Vienna, Brussels, Madrid or Orleans are good for the system but I happen to live in a city that established bike paths years ago but during the winter months they are not practical. One rarely sees a bicycle in Montreal from late November to early April. Besides, North Americans enjoy bicycles for fun and relaxation but the temperament is car based. Unfortunately it’s taking the rising gas prices to change people’s minds. Bon voyage en vellib…
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