Before arriving in Paris I kept hearing, “Oh the best way to see Paris is on foot, walk the whole city, it's really the only way to experience it.” I'd rather be shot and thrown into a dumpster by the Seine. Walking is not for cyclists – it sours the guns, it's slow as hell. We are not walkers, we are rouleurs.
Enter the Velib – the word is an amalgam of velo and liberty, 20000 bikes, 1800 stations spread around the city. This was conceived to get cars off the streets and judging from the number of people using the bikes, it must be doing something right. These are not intended for sightseeing as much as they are a 24/7, nearly free way to get from point to point without a car and its associated pains. The bikes were custom-designed, 3 speeds, adjustable seat, a cable lock, basket, front and rear lights driven off the hubs. The coolest part is the sturdy male tab that easily mates with the base station. Post-ride you dock your bike into any open base, it locks, and you walk away. Brilliant.
Having been here for two days makes me an expert in all things Parisian, of course. The city is rather flat so the three gears are enough, the tires are tough, it's no speedster but really who cares? It's not your bike. No emotional attachment; use it and walk away. There is always another just like it waiting for the next ride. I've ridden a few of these bikes that needed some love but almost all of them have been great.
One subscribes to this kind of service. I bought a one week service for 8 euros. A whole year is only 29 euros. The first half hour is free, the next is 1 euro. You log in, grab a bike, adjust the seat, no time lost in adjusting the helmet as none are provided. Then you accelerate into the maelstrom that is Paris traffic; a torrent of motos, scooters, trucks, buses and bikes. Exciting and dangerous-absolument. But I figure I'll still last longer than that cyclist with headphones and cigarette.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/j.andrews3@comcast.net/velib photos/”/]
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@Gianni its cool shit like this that makes me want to actually visit another country. I may do so some day. But I get so nervous I get the shakes when I think about traveling outside the US. Eddy H. Merckx, I don't even like to visit some places IN the US. Like Texas. Or "the South." Makes me nervous and I begin to cry a lot.
Hate to say it Frank, but the site has become all too popular. All us assholes chiming in at once. We need a new section at the top (along with the aforementioned "the Rides"); we now need "the Bullshit" - a place of general bullshittery.
@frank
@Ron
I wish I was wearing boat shoes.
@marko
I got nothing! No respect with my Velominati shirt. If we had an instant French translation dongle (Frank?) some might read it.
I was on a cycling sock budget there too and came away with a chapeau cyclisme (?). Amazing shop utterly packed with nice bikes, the stem and bars turned to fit more in and make them harder to ride away with.
@Nikolai
No one cares about helmets, double parking, smoking, dogs in restaurants, or diet foods. People here are healthier, thinner, and more content than in the US. What does it all mean, besides the fact we are all doomed in the US?
@Nikolai
I thought they were talking about bringing one in Melbourne ?
There was a recent post on Cycling Tips suggesting they should waive the helmet laws for users of the bike rental system, which of course caused precitable shock and horror.
Montreal uses the bixi system. It seems rather popular there, and looks to be a success there.
However when I visit that city later this month for the GP cycliste I will be riding my own bike.
Off topic, but how do I change the avatar on here? While I still have facial hair, I no longer rock hair to my shoulders. I have no clue how the current photo got there.
@mcsqueak
Ok, so we're casting a Merckx movie. I'll put Clive Owen in as Merckx. Daniel Craig as Anquetil. Javier Bardem as Ocana.
There's a clothing shop on Republique called OH LUMIER, there you will find a couple wool jersey's on the cheap and it's not too far from Cycles Laurent. Good post. Thanks. I spent 6 months in Paris and I didn't realize how much i missed it.
@Gianni
Just came back from Nice, southern France, where they have the same system. And shitloads of fantastic roads to cycle. To add to the above they have really good food there - more or less everything is organic by default and actually has taste! Unlike in London where I live.
You might want to check the following written by someone whos eems to have left the US for France: http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com/post/2010/03/31/Cycling-in-France.
Very relaxed too. On one day I had a couple of hours to myself as family preferred to stay in the apartment and so decided to check the local bike shop. It just happened that it was during lunch time, and all shops other than supermarkets or chain stores close for 2 hrs for lunch.
best regards,