Velib Paris....

Headhuunter
Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
edited February 2009 in Commuting chat
...Oh dear. If this has happened in genteel, gay Paris, what chance is there for the bikes under a similar scheme which BoJo has planned in London? Do I detect another drain on taxpayers money approaching?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7881079.stm?lss
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Comments

  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    There are a couple of houses near my office that have rental bikes in their front porches and it's always made me wonder how these schemes stop people from just stealing the bikes. This confirms what I'd long suspected.
    My photography // My helmet cam videos // My bike
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Hmmmm, interesting! I wonder how the thieves/vandals are getting around the system that takes €150 off the card you use to create your account if you don't return the bike...

    Maybe they're stealing them from people who've locked them away from the stands... or maybe they're just paying €150 a time!

    I'd be sad to see it go though, it's a brilliant scheme, one of the few good things about that hateful, hateful city.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Yes, I'd love to see a similar scheme in London, unless it ends up costing taxpayers the earth. Or is it worth running it at a loss to get cars off the street perhaps? Could the loss be made up in an increase in the congestion charge I wonder....

    "hateful, hateful city" - controversial, please elaborate.
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    It's pretty easy to get round any scheme that uses a credit/debit card for security purposes, provided you don't mind waiting a week for a new card to be delivered and you don't intend to do it more than once, maybe twice at a push.
    My photography // My helmet cam videos // My bike
  • spring91
    spring91 Posts: 69
    Reports of Vélib’s Demise Greatly Exaggerated

    http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/12/reports-of-velibs-demise-greatly-exaggerated/

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