| Vacation rentals in France (farms, cottages, gites, apartments) |
|
|
|
> SlowTrav > France > Instructions for Visitors VELIB' – A NEW WAY TO TRAVEL IN PARISThe self-service bike transportation systemTracey Stanard Today you can tour Paris from a bike, at your own pace, the way you’d like without having to follow a tour or schedule for the metro or bus. This comes thanks to Velib' – the newest transportation system in Paris: self-service 3-speed bikes that are sturdy, inexpensive and easy to pick up and drop off. It’s a nice change to the alternate of being cooped up on a public transportation vehicle. Also, unlike the metro which closes at 1pm, Velib' stations are opened 24/7. The Velib' terminal is designed to include 8 languages: French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. Obviously they want the system to work for tourists as well as residents. This is a welcoming offer to Paris – the premiere world tourist destination with 27 million visitors a year. How the Velib' System WorksJust go to one of the Velib' stations throughout the city, and select either a one-day card (1 euro) or a weekly card (5 euros.) The first half-hour is free, then the cost is just 1 euro for the second half-hour, 2 euros for the third half hour and 4 euros for each half-hour after that. After the purchase of an access card along with your own personal password, go to a meter and simply type in the code your bike should unlock and you’re off! Once you reach your destination Velib’ station – click the bike into an empty dock, the light should change from yellow to green, and that’s it. Just in case the bike docks are full, you get a free 15 minute courtesy ride to the closest station. There has been some talk about whether US Credit Cards will work without the “puce” (micro-chip,) but according to JC Decaux (the developer of Velib’) in a NY Times article, the system now accepts US American Express cards, other US cards, however, remain questionable. Be aware that minors aged from 14 (minimum height: 1.50 m) may only use Velib’ with the authorization of their legal guardian. Laying Groundwork for the FutureThe city of Paris has over 371 km (230 miles) of cycling lanes and growing – which definitely help the cyclist get around. The Velib’ system should have 20,600 bikes by the end of 2007, as well as a station every 900 feet for a total of 1,451. This is a dense transportation network, by comparison, the metro has a total of 298 stations. Happy cycling!Resourceshttp://www.v1.paris.fr/EN/: Includes a 31 page press release from the city that includes everything you need to know. You may call the Velib’ Call Centre regarding subscription questions and information: 01 30 79 79 30 http://www.velib.paris.fr/: The official website Tracey has briefly lived and traveled in France. She enjoys writing and glad that this article has helped her brush up on her French! |
Travel ResourcesFrance Resources |
| Car Rental | Hotel Booking | Flight Booking | Train Tickets | Books, Maps, Events |
| Europe Cell Phones | Long Distance Cards | Luggage, etc. | Travel Insurance | Classifieds |
* Advertise on Slow Travel | Post your travel questions on the Slow Travel Forums Copyright © 2000 - 2008 SlowTrav.com, unless noted otherwise. Slow Travel® is a registered trademark. Contact Slow Travel RSS Feeds - Link to Us - Disclaimer - Currency Converter - Colophon - Sponsors - Become a Member |
Vacation Rentals - France - Trip Planning - Vacation Rentals - Hotels - Restaurants - Instructions - Travel Notes - Postcards - Photos |