Problems in Paris
The Time published an article yesterday about the problems that Paris is having with their Velib’ program. For those of you who don’t know Velib’ is a bike-share program initiated in Paris around 2007. You pay 1 Euro a day to rent a bike, or you can buy a 30 Euro annual pass. The Chic Cyclist has a few articles on the program, one of which I will link to.
Velib’ is a portmanteau word for Velo (bicycle) and Libre (Free), and it seems that periParisian youth are taking this a little too literally: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/world/europe/31bikes.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Apparently they are stealing and vandalizing the bicycles, which cost around $3,500 each, which is a whole fucking lot for a free bicycle.
So, why should we, as Bostonians, care? Because we’re basing our new Bike sharing system off of the Velib system. We have just as many teenagers as the Parisians, although perhaps there isn’t as much to be resentful about in Boston. I don’t think suburban teenagers from Marblehead are going to feel disconnected from the glamor of Boston proper, but they might still just do it for standard teen age reasons (because they can).
But there is a bright side to this.
If you are a mechanic, this could mean a whole shit-ton of work for you and your bike shop. The Parisian vendor for the Velib program has had to hire a fleet of mechanics to combat the neglect, abuse, and vandalism of the bicycles. Since spending anything less than $3,500 would technically be considered saving money, I would anticipate this to be as a fresh source of income for Boston’s bike shops.
Liberty Hotel Bike Share
And by the way, I think the liberty Hotel has had a bike-share program going for a while now. I wonder how they avoid vandalism and neglect and whatnot. Anyone know>
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