How does the free bike program work in Paris?

Question

Can someone w/ practical details tell me more about it... Is it really free? what kind of bikes? how easy to obtain? hours?

Answer 1

I'll try it out tomorow and report back.

Correction to the post above : it's a three speed bike.

In the meantime I see that another guy has put in a really full answer.

One point: if you don't have a bank card (like me), the only option is the one year card.

Answer 2

Its not free although it is  very low cost.

There are 10,600 posted at 750 stations all over the city. You can take a bike and put it back at any station around town. The basic charge covers trips of twenty minutes or less (to encourage rrturning the bike to the a stand after each usage).

A year long pass costs the equivalent of $41.75, a one-day pass costs $1.42 and a seven-day ticket goes for $7.15. The service is offered in eight languages and its machines accept foreign credit cards.

Answer 3

Since I live just 2 minutes from one of the Vélib stations I decided to investigate!

Paris Vélib Service (Vélib is short for “Velo Liberte” or “Bike Freedom”) is a city-wide bike rental service.  With plans for 20,600 bicycles available on 1,451 stations, it is the largest world-wide bicycle rental project.

I had some luck as when I arrived at the Jaures station as there was a ratp truck unloading new bikes.  I spoke to the RATP employees and found out there are currently about 13,000 bikes in place right now with plans to have 20,600 by the end of the summer in 1,451 stations. The bikes just arrived a few days ago (on the 15th of July – right after bastille).

I walked down to the Jaures Vélib station and rented one!  It’s a pretty cool bike; a bit particular looking but no one seems to mind riding them.  I road it about 30 minutes and it did well.  It’s not meant for comfort so watch out for bumps in the road and cobblestones.  It has 3 speeds so is fairly flexible.  It also has lots of illumination so seems fairly safe at night (I’ll try it tonight and see how it goes).  It’s got a steel cable inside the basket that has a large steel plug attached to it.  Seems to be device for locking it up somewhere but I have not seen any places for doing this yet.  Here’s a picture!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wakaseoo/70...

They are not exactly free but they are very cheap.

You have to buy a Vélib pass first:  

Daily card is 1 euro

Weekly card is 7 euros

1 YEAR is 29 euros

To get the 1 year card you have to go online and sign up and get an “abonnement”.  Most people visiting Paris will probably want to just get a bike for 7 days then check it in/out as needed over the 7 days.  You can also obtain the 1 year card by filling out a form at the Mairie (the various city halls in each arrondissement), any metro ticket station, or many pastry shops as well!

The three choices do involve a 150 Euro “deposit”.  That is, if you don’t return the bike within a certain amount of time you will be charged 150 euros.

There is a 12 point legal summary that you must accept to obtain a Vélib pass (one of the annoying features is having to read through the entire legal acceptance form on a small screen).  Another issue is that when you pay with a bank card you have to switch to a different interface screen.  The Main interface (a color plasma screen) for the details of the bike pass then the smaller LCD screen for the details of your bank card.  But, it’s very similar to the RATP and SNCF machines used to get metro and train tickets (at least in the complexity of the user interface).

To get the 1 year card you have to go online and sign up and get an “abonnement”.  Most people visiting Paris will probably want to just get a bike for 7 days then check it in/out as needed over the 7 days.

Either of the three choices do involve a 150 Euro “deposit”.  That is, if you don’t return the bike within a certain amount of time you will be charged 150 euros.

The first two options can be done right at the Vélib station.  There’s not a person there so you have to use the interface.

Payment:

You can use French bank card and it looks like most ATM cards will work as well.  I tried using my navigo and it worked great!  I also used my Bank Card and it worked also.  You can also use your navigo card (your metro pass which you can obtain free from https://www.navigo.fr/ - you’ll need to upload a photo and provide a French address – use the address you will be staying at even if it’s a hotel; the navigo card will arrive in a few days so do this before you leave)

Language:

The interface says it’s in French, German, English but these languages don’t work yet (I guess they have not translated the interface so these buttons don’t do anything).  So, you’ll need to read French but it’s not that hard and there are always people around willing to help.  The RATP employees say there are plans to include other languages (up to 12) but right now there are only 3 (and only French is actually working right now!).

Once you receive an abonnement card you will have to select a PIN (code secret) that will allow you to use your card in other stations.  

Once you process a payment, you select the stall number, then go push the button on the stall corresponding to the bike you selected.  Then you just go ride off into the sunset!  Then return the bike at any other station.

Once you have the pass and bike you are charged based on how long you ride it – simple.  If you check out a bike and ride it for less than an hour and a half it’s free!  But if you ride it longer you have to pay - A supplement of 1 euro will be charged for an additional half-hour, 2 euros for another 30-minutes and 4 euros for every addition half-hour after that.

Don’t forget to push the button on the stall to get your bike!  I don’t know how many people I’ve seen try to “swipe” the paper bike ticket on the navigo interface!

Vendors

JCDecaux sponsors the project in exchange for advertising rights in Paris.  JCDecaux is Europe’s largest outdoor advertising company.  Like a similar scheme in Lyon, where 10 percent of the city's population has a subscription to the local sharing scheme, Vélib is operated by outdoor advertising giant JCDecaux, which is footing the bill in exchange for exclusive rights to 1,628 Paris billboards.

The RFID (Radio Frequency ID) system is provided by ASK: http://www.ask-rfid.com/uk/news/news_art...

Bike, accessories and hardware:

The sturdy grey bikes come with a metal basket on the handlebars and are heavier than standard bicycles, built to withstand heavy use. In line with the program's green image, Vélib‘ maintenance staff get around town on 130 electrically assisted bicycles. A barge with 12 stops along the Seine will pick up bikes in need of major repairs. Cleaning staff drive electric vehicles and use rain collected on the roofs of JCDecaux offices

Shimano (brake systems)

Prowheel (core hardware)

Nexus (gear shifts, cables, etc)

The bikes are 3 speed “roadster”-type bikes.  

RETURN

To return the bike just put it into one of the stalls.  Make sure the slot is engaged the light goes green.  

If there are problems you can call Vélib’s emergency number: 01 30 79 79 30

ACCESS FROM MOBILE PHONES  

The Vélib service can also be accessed via mobile phones.  Using the following URL from a mobile phone one can obtain a Vélib access card and rent a bike:

http://wap.gallery.bouygtel.fr/

NOTES and Additional Info:

Here’s a map to find a Vélib station:

http://www.Vélib.paris.fr/les_stations/t...

For more info go to http://www.Vélib.paris.fr

Here’s some details in English http://uk.franceguide.com/press/Vélib-Pa...

Application forms for the annual card will be available starting June 13 at Paris District City Halls, 300 métro stations and 400 pastry shops throughout the city.

The city of Paris has over 371 km (230 miles) of cycling lanes.

For more information visit: www.velib.paris.fr (French language only)

Here is a google map of all the current Vélib stations (not especially accurate though as it’s missing “my” station in the 19th):

http://maps.google.fr/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl...

ASK:  http://www.ask-rfid.com/uk/news/news_art...

Paris bike info (French): http://www.velocite-movies.com/

Answer 4

from what I have read there is a bike station with a series of basic single speed bikes available. you walk up to it and leave a deposit with a credit card and take a bike, if you keep the bike they keep the money. each bike has a electronic transponder that reports when it is returned. if you return it to another station then you are not charged for the bike. you can keep it for up to one day.

but as of now that project is on hold see news report link.