Free Bikes in France

[sil]

Hello everybody,
I just saw this article in today's newspaper and I thought that it was pretty interesting.
Paris officials announced that the city has selected outdoor advertising fir JCDecaux to operate a new free bicycle service in that city. This bikes basically are going to be available for free ( at about 15,000 of them) to commuters, strollers, and most important to us tourists. This is part of an effort to cut down pollution.

Happy ride!

[me]

several places are trying/have tried "Community bicycle programs" with various levels of success. some Dutch guy started such programs in the 60's all over the Netherlands, in Helsinki and in Copenhagen. they even tried it in Portland, OR.

too often, the cycles are vandalized or stolen. perhaps they'll have more success in Paris. if they have advertising on them, i've not heard of that twist before, that should help.

[herrbert]

Copenhagen and Helsinki still have this programm, and also advertisments on them, but during my stay in Helsinki I saw just one!

In Holland these bikes were painted white, and everybody could take one, whenever he/she wanted, but now they are chained, and you can release them to put a 1 or 2 euro coin in the lock, to release the bike. (you get back the coin, when you place the bike back).

[WillTravel]

I don't recall Paris as being the safest place to bike in. It's not like Amsterdam or Copenhagen. But I'll be on the lookout in a few days. (Although I guess they won't have started the program just yet.)