1
OFTEN mistaken by tourists for a French word, Velib is actually a concoction of vélo (bicycle) and libre (free). Hesitatingly launched in 2007 by the municipality of Paris to offer a means of transport, both free and pollution-free, the Velib campaign took off with the speed of a space rocket.
A Velib looks deceptively a bit like the legendary Solex which was made famous all over the world by the Brigitte Bardot publicity shots in 1971 and following the release of the 1975 Hollywood movie Three Days of the Condor in which Robert Redford was seen riding one. But the Solex, despite its charms, was no more than a fuel-driven two-wheeler.
Originally conceived as a means of transport for the residents of Paris only, the success of the Velib operation was so stunning that the authorities quickly extended it to the 30 communes that surround the capital. Today, eight years later, there are some twenty thousand bicycles available at specialised parking spots in and around Paris.
Once you have acquired an annual membership card at a nominal price, for the first 30 minutes the Velib offers you a free ride and you pay a small sum if you need to continue for a longer period. But then there is another way, perfectly legal too, around this negligible hindrance. Normally half an hour is enough to cover a fairly long distance within the city limits if you happen to be a good bicyclist. In case you need to stay longer in the saddle, all you have to do is to bring your Velib to the first available parking space when you are about to reach the time limit.
Once the bicycle’s front wheel is placed in the computer-connected socket, the electronic screen confirms that the property has been returned to the City of Paris. Then you can use your card to borrow another Velib and the adventure can restart and last for as long as you desire by repeating the same procedure. This pollution-free transport is used at least a hundred thousand times each day, according to the latest statistics.
But city authorities remain far from pleased by these flattering figures. “We have to take a series of quick actions in the next two years to rid Paris entirely of pollution,” says Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor.
The plan includes creating further no-automobile zones, turning the current parking areas into green spaces and reducing the maximum speed limit currently allowed to cars on most streets.
Despite the phenomenal success of the Velib, France remains far behind a number of European countries in the anti-pollution drive. In Germany, for example, about 40 per cent of the population uses bicycles to go to work, as compared with about 30 per cent who drive cars or motorcycles. In Denmark the figure is even higher and the authorities plan to bring it to 50 per cent by the year 2020. But it is Holland that leads the race as the number of cyclists there has already attained the 50 per cent figure.
Faced with such competition, the French however have not said their last word yet. The other increasingly popular means of transportation within the city limits is the Autolib, which is an electric car. Currently some three thousand such vehicles circulate and can be stationed at about 900 specially created parking spots with recharging facilities. Understandingly the Autolib costs money and is a bit beyond the reach of young people and workers, but it is very convenient to professionals.
Both, the Velibs and the Autolibs, are found in perfect condition by the users as teams of technicians constantly check them and immediately repair or replace the damaged vehicles.
Future plans in the fight against pollution include increase in taxes on diesel cars and a rebate of up to 10,000 euros to the buyers of electric automobiles.
The writer is a journalist based in Paris.
Published in Dawn February 15th , 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play
