Velib’ Public Bicycles
Posted in Models, RDAG by Kate Archdeacon on December 2nd, 2008
Vélib’ (“vélo libre†or “vélo libertéâ€, free bicycle or bicycle freedom) is a public bicycle rental programme in Paris, France. Velib’ creates a convenient way to use a low energy intensive mode of transport, accessible at short notice and for short periods.
The system was launched in 2007, pushed by Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë. Ten thousand bicycles were introduced to the city with 750 automated rental stations each with 15 or more bikes/spaces. This number has since grown to 20,000 bicycles and 1,450 stations, about 1 station every 300 m throughout the city centre, making Vélib’ the largest system of its kind in the world.
Each Vélib station is equipped with an automatic rental terminal and spots for dozens of bicycles. Maps showing the station locations are available at all kiosks. The rental terminals display the locations and numbers of available bicycles and free spots of the neighboring Velib stations. If a user arrives with a rented bicycle at a station without free spots, the terminal grants another 15 minutes of free rental time. Twenty vehicles are used at night to redistribute bicycles to high-demand stations.
In order to use the system, users need to take out a subscription, purchased by the day, week or year, which allows an unlimited number of rentals. Bike use is free for the first half hour of every individual trip; an unlimited number of such free trips can be made per day. A trip that lasts longer than 30 minutes incurs a charge of one to four euros for each subsequent 30-minute period. The increasing price scale is intended to keep the bikes in circulation.
From “Innovation in mobility for sustainable outcomes” case studies by Geoff Browne.
