Bike Sharing - The Velib: Paris, France
This is a brief, informative overview of Velib, the extremely successful bike sharing program in Paris, covering issues related to operations, membership, pricing, safety concerns, environmental impacts and job creation. The article uses a question-and-answer format that covers the basics of Velib and provides information on the number and location of the shared bicycles. It also breaks down the membership costs of Velib into two elements: cost of the subscription (dependent on length — can be one day, one week or one year) and costs associated with use (dependent on the length of time using the bike). The article is concise and easy to understand, but does not go into much detail or analysis of the program itself.
Bicycling reduces the amount of gasoline used, decreases harmful emissions into the atmosphere and improves air quality. It also reduces traffic congestion and the land needed for parking, and connects residents to the city in which they live. Bike sharing helps to increase the overall health and wellness of residents who use the program by promoting a more active lifestyle. Bicycling is one of the most affordable and sustainable modes of transportation and can be both encouraged and promoted through the creation of a bike sharing program.
