February 12th, 2009
Vélib Facing Challenges
Paris’ Vélib is the largest bike-sharing system in the world with approximately 1500 stations, 20,000 bicycles, and over 3 million subscribers generating over 20 million euros in revenue for the city. Since it’s inception 18 months ago, Vélib users have taken over 42 million bike trips, with an estimated 10% replacing car trips. Improved air quality, reduced congestion, and a generally better quality of life for the city’s residents are all benefits resulting from the bike-sharing system.
Unfortunately, the otherwise successful program is facing financial challenges due to vandalism and theft. According to a recent article published by the BBC, over half the original fleet of 15,000 bikes have disappeared, presumed stolen. And since the program’s launch 18 months ago, nearly all of the original bicycles have been replaced at a cost of $519 each. According to the article, JCDecaux, the private company that operates the program under contract for the city, is struggling under the financial burden. Fortunately, it appears the city is going to step up and cover a portion of the costs to replace the bicycles.
Let’s hope they work through this setback and put in good working order what has been a wildly successful program by any other measure.
UPDATE — Read Streetblog’s follow-up here: Reports of Vélib’s Demise Greatly Exaggerated
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8 Responses to “Vélib Facing Challenges”
I wondered how much theft there was in that system. I am surprised it is that pervasive. Still don’t get why people throw bicycles into waterways, such a waste.
I read the article about the thefts and vandalism. I’m not sure at all that replacing the bikes is going to solve the problem. France has a very sophisticated and deep sense of urban ennui, and not being a Parisienne nor French in any way, I have no idea why or what can be done. The scale of creative destruction is both fascinating and frightening to me. It’s like the volume of bicycle theft in places like Amsterdam, the ubiquitous graffiti in NYC, the violent crime in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, etc. These are massive symptoms of social unhappiness and unrest, and it’s going to take a monumental effort to tamp them down w/o turning everywhere into a police state.
But that’s just my opinion…
When I used the Velib system, I was required to put in credit card. You have to use your card to make a deposit to even be able to take a bike. Originally, there was argument that this reserved the bikes for a certain class of Parisienne. I don’t understand why the deposits aren’t helping to cover those costs.
Interesting piece at Streetsblog about how this may be a PR tactic on the part of the contractor:
http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/12/reports-of-velibs-demise-greatly-exaggerated/
From the streetsblog link above that Thom provided, this regarding the scale of the theft problem:
“It averages out to about 15 stolen per day, out of 80,000 daily users,” says Eric Britton, founder of the Paris-based New Mobility Agenda. Hardly a fatal blow. “It’s like skinning a knee.”
Another link that helps explain some of the damage to Velib bikes, anyway. Viewers sensitive to Velo-buse, may want to turn away.
http://bicycle-diaries.blogspot.com/2009/02/velo-buse.html
bikes, common as water, are bound to share in both the glory and the pain (like water)
waterfalls, coastal sunsets, desert oasis, hope in the desert..sustenance for life..(glory)
polluted rivers, polluted water tables, death to the drinker..
nature is self cleaning, tides, water and air currents, hurricanes, nature’s washing machines..
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