Bon Anniversaire, Vélib’

Here’s a way in which the Paris public bicycle system, known as the Vélib’, has indelibly altered the Parisian way of life: it’s rendered the French capital’s crippling transport strikes not quite so crippling.  Anyone unfortunate enough to have visited the City of Light during a transport strike can tell you what a pain it is to get around—bus service is erratic, taxi waits are existential, and the metro at rush hour is like a scene where everyone’s fleeing before Michael Bay wrecks up the place.  Last January, however, on the day of the most recent transport strike, over 19,000 Vélib’s had already been rented by 10 am, versus around 7600 by the same time the week before.  Many Parisians (like me) couldn’t find a bike and had to walk anyway, but happily, in Paris, the distances are short, and it’s good to walk.

Photo by LWY

As we roll up on its two year anniversary, Parisians (really their newspapers) are reflecting on the success and perceived shortcomings of the Vélib’ program, which in the first 24 months of its operation has enabled 54 million trips on its fleet of 20,600 bikes.

On the whole, Parisians are pleased with their Vélib’s. A poll by TNS-Sofres in March found that 94% of users were satisfied with the system, citing its ease of use and affordability.  The main concern is rising vandalism, which taken together with the approximately 8000 bikes stolen thus far has led some in the press to question the program’s long run viability, although such reports appear to be exaggerated.  The costs of upkeep are indeed more than initially estimated by JCDecaux, the communications company that runs the program in exchange for the rights to 1,600 billboards.  Though few are shedding tears for the company, which generates considerable revenue from its ad space.

Photo by four12

Naturally, the rise in vandalism has piqued the media’s curiosity.  A report in Le Figaro, pondering over the reasons for it, quotes a sociologist, who speculates (based upon zero evidence) that the vandalism is class warfare, a “symbolic attack” directed at “bobos”, who apparently in the minds of ruffians are  associated with bicycles somehow. Though one suspects that in this context “bobo” is more of a slur than an actual demographic. Many Parisians resent the rising cost of living, and it’s probably appealing to imagine that the presumed beneficiaries of gentrification are the targets of the Vélib’ vandals.   But respect for the commons has never run high in big western cities.  In all likelihood, it’s just some punk kids.

More annoying for Vélib’ users are the clogs in the system, which, if anything, are symptoms of the program’s success. The magazine Nouvel Observateur recounted user complaints:

“The worst that can happen is when you can’t find a place to return your bike.  One time it took me an hour,” lamented Gaspard…  “When you can’t find a place to park your bike, it’s a bit like looking for a place to park your car,” noted Xavier…

Just like with cars, everyone wants to ride and park at the same time. JCDecaux tries to reshuffle the bikes on a daily basis, but in the end it’s a bit like pushing a boulder up the side of Montmartre.

Flush with the success, the city is pushing ahead with its plans for its Autolib car-sharing scheme by the end of the year.  One wonders how long it’ll be before some punk drives one down the steps of the Trocadero.