by frog
Streetfilms has a video celebrating the first anniversary of Paris’s famous Velib system:
On July 15, 2007 Paris debuted the world’s largest self-service “bicycle transit system” called Vélib outdoing previously designed bike share programs. Vélib is a balance of scale and functionality, clocking in with more than 20,000 bikes, and 1,451 docking stations, which are never more than 1,000 feet apart. As a result, Vélib is effectively a new form of public transportation that has generated more than 25 million new bicycle trips in its first year, 10% of which substitute former car trips.
My favourite bit of the film is the pictures of the protected bike lanes, where instead of the road layout going:
- parked car lane -> bike lane -> car lane,
it goes:
- bike lane -> parked car lane -> car lane.
I haven’t explained it very well in words, but if you see the film you’ll see how sensible it is. Also check out the bit at the end about how much money everyone, including taxpayers, are all saving from Velib.
Published in Environment & Resource Management | Society & Culture | Video by frog on Wed, July 16th, 2008
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Loading...
It is indeed an inspiring model of how bicycles can form a part of a “public transport” mix in its broadest sense. It certainly works as a commercial proposition, although I’ve heard they’re having difficulty as the scheme is required to move into metropolitan Paris and into the banlieues. No doubt these issues will be resolved.
Having it run by a private enterprise isn’t necessary for the operation of the scheme, but has helped to mute resistance from an initially skeptical Parisian public. Copenhagen, with its bicycle friendly culture, has a free scheme run by a not for profit. Similar bike rental schemes are popping up all over Europe, and I hope we see city and regional councils investigating these (I wouldn’t even suggest that the Government has the imagination to consider supporting something like this – not this Government.)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
look ma …no cycle helmets !!! LOVE it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Frog,
“1000 feet apart” … could you PLEASE change that into “real measurements” for us?
It is ironic that this article is talking about an initiative in France, the country that gave us the metric system in the first place.
AotearoaNZ adopted that Metric System decades ago, and the last time I looked we hadn’t gone back(wards)!
Just yesterday frogbloggers were going on about kids who are not coping within our schools … PLEASE, everyone who reads this, do them and all of us a favour and stick to our official Metric System regardless of what the USAans do (or don’t) with their sometimes antedeluvian ideas.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Great article and great initiative by the way!
Environment Canterbury/Christchurch City Council are in the process of setting up such a system right now. Bikes are being purchased and stations set up as I write.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Hi eredwen – “1000 feet apartâ€? is a quote, not my own words, so I’m reluctant to change it – but it’s about 300 metres, or in even more kiwi terminology, 3 rugby fields.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Yes, it’s about time we got rid of the cycle helmet law. I won’t labour you with the numbers, but there is little evidence to suggest they reduce serious head injury rates, and plenty of evidence that they make cycling more dangerous by discouraging cycling (there is great safety in numbers). See http://cyclehelmets.org/mf.html?1008 for an impartial look at the evidence relating to the New Zealand experiment.
I know there are bigger issues, but I would be delighted if the Greens campaigned to repeal this odious and harmful law.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Hopefully Ecan/CCC will watch the video and will note that the scheme has “generated more than 25 million new bicycle trips in its first year, 10% of which substitute former car trips.” and ensure that the remaining car trippers are only expected to pay 10% of the costs of the Christchurch scheme’s costs.
Only 10% former car trippers? I suppose such a low figure is hardly surprising with oil at it’s record lowest price ever.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Bikes as a public transport system sound like a really cool idea. Wonder if we can convince people here to copy it
It would work great in Christchurch or Auckland.
Can’t exactly say I’m informed on the usefulness of cycling helmets though.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
heh. more like parked car lane/bike lane -> car lane,
or even parked car lane/bike lane/car lane -> car lane
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
frog,
Thanks for the measurement translation.
I understand a reluctance to change an article.
However, when a quote contains “foreign” terms, it is appropriate to “translate” at the end of the quote:
“1,000 feet is approximately equal to 300 metres”
(… and you certainly chose the WRONG “Kiwi terminology” for me with your reference to a “Rugby field”. I grew up when women were supposed to admire “male sport” (especially rugby) but not participate in anything serious themselves for fear of growing “big muscles”…
Thankfully times have changed!)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
eredwen Says:
July 16th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
> I grew up when women were supposed to admire “male sport� (especially rugby) but not participate in anything serious themselves for fear of growing “big muscles�…
When I was a kid, being female was considered a legitimate excuse for not being interested in rugby. Nowadays there seems to be a widespread expectation that both sexes are interested.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
interesting analysis of Velib here at Worldchanging:
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)