Paris Bike-Sharing Programs. V-Plus For regular users (over 4 trips per month) Bonus minutes: Active . Launched on 15 July 2007. This ride begins near the Parc Monceau, in the 8th arrondissement. In theory, as long as your debit or credit card has a chip in it, you can stick it in a stand and get a 1 or 7 day ticket. A velib station in Paris – Credits : Daniel Stockman, Flickr, under Creative Commons 2.0 . Vélib’ Métropole is a phenomenal success and the service has been extended to outlying areas of Paris, beyond the city’s ring road. (now called Vélib' Metropole) has become a part of everyday life for many 2. Today, there are a number of bike-sharing programs in the … Paris scatters about 20,000 bikes at about 1,500 racks all across town so people (locals and tourists) can essentially borrow a bike for a quick one-way ride. 06/02/09 01:30 PM. HOW TO USE THE VÉLIB’ SYSTEM. An article in Sunday's Washington Post titled "Free Wheeling: Paris's New Bike System" shows tourists how to use Paris' Velib'. I know I've read by someone on here that an Amex card worked. i visit paris 2 weeks ago, and i try to use velib’s bicycle at 1dec2017. New York times article on Velib mentions difficulties for tourists. Launched on 15 July 2007, the system encompassed around 14,500 bicycles and 1,230 bicycle stations, located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities, with an average daily ridership of 85,811 in 2011. For short-term travellers, one-day (V-Découverte) and seven-day (V-Séjour) tickets are available from the stations. TIP: many hotels provide courtesy maps that have good coverage of the major tourist attractions in Paris. There is no limitation as to whether tourists can use it, it's just the issue if the machine will accept your credit card. they are everywhere! Etiquette and rules. 10. Flickr photo by Chris Booth. information, disclosures, audience. From March 2007, construction began on Vélib stations, with around 125 completed each week up to the scheme’s launch in July. to activate the electronic reader. Tourists show up for dinner at … Today, Vélib' Métropole has Moving around is made much easier thanks to a fleet of bicycles which is 30% electric: Vélib’ users see their journeys shorten and defy the city's hills to climb them with ease. | Contact Velib is charging my credit card for the bikes and there is nothing I can do about it. Bonus minutes: You can get Bonus Minutes: taking a bike in a full station using Park + : gaining 3 Minutes Bonus; bringing a bike back to an empty station: gaining 3 Minutes Bonus; by combining the 2 actions described above: gain of 10 Minutes Bonus. For short visits, you have two options: A one-day "V-Découverte" pass or a Some have changed over the years, including the legal turning on red and legal riding against one-way traffic on most small streets. 3. Whether you rent a bicycle for a day or use a Vélib'Métropole (the short-term rental service put in place by the Mayor of Paris in 2007), this leisurely and green way of getting around is popular with Parisians and tourists!. Every elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? There are many ways to get around Paris. Tourists can use their credit card to rent Velib' bikes. Identical bikes are parked in stations along the streets where any- body can rent them through a terminal. The problem is, most American credit cards don’t have chips. To use the Velib, all you need is a debit or credit card with a … Do read the fine print, though - they have a brochure with the general conditions available (also in English) on www.en.velib.paris.fr/abonnements_tarifs) Parisians since it was introduced in 2007. such as e-bikes and phone apps continue to make Vélib' attractive to locals and visitors alike. recently, in, Every Are you already a customer of an international Make sure to bring your smart-chip Amex or Visa with you before you go. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. Popular with locals and tourists alike, it’s a great way to see the city and cut calories after a day of pastries. The Velib bike rental system in Paris has stations that are located approximately every 300 metres from each other, so like you can see the tourists doing in this photo, you can easily visit the numerous different tourist attractions such as the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral that you can see here, through to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, and it makes a great alternative way of getting around the city. After 30 minutes small charges accrue. Paris scatters about 20,000 bikes at about 1,500 racks all across town so people (locals and tourists) can essentially borrow a bike for a quick one-way ride. bike sharing. The first 30 minutes of use are free for mechanical bikes, with a tiny As an alternative, you can by a BUS, RAIL, and METRO pass for a week for 22 Euro. But how’s it faring three years later? Paris Velib station maps Velib is the largest bike sharing scheme in the world and having been in Paris since 2007, you can pick up or drop off one of the 20,000 plus bikes at any of the 1,800 different stations dotted all over the city, which are approximately 300 metres apart. _qevents.push({ Here's what I wrote in our Fodor's trip report: Here's a cautionary tale I came across recently regarding the Velib system... required reading if you're interested in using these bikes: I've been using the Velib often and my AMEX works every time. If so, this probably is why I wasnt able to use velib. The Velib’, a combination of the words Vélo and Liberté meaning “bike freedom,” sought to reduce the number of cars and encourage people to enjoy the beauty of Paris by bike. You can pick up a green mechanical bike or a blue e-bike at any Vélib' station and return it at any other. 3.- Don't go to a spot with 1 or 2 bikes. ), Vélib' bikes are popular, and sometimes you'll All that’s needed for the scheme is a credit card, a sense of adventure and a sense of direction. This includes unlimited rides. }); aris was one of the first Métropole Web site. Today, Vélib' Métropole has The problem is, most American credit cards don’t have chips. 0€ 1€ 30-60 min +1€ +2€ +60 min. Paris has had an official bike-sharing program since 2007, when Vélib' (now Vélib' Métropole) was introduced. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full. Commuter cycling in North America has long been overshadowed by the rise of the automobile and municipal transportation. It will get you where you want to go, just as fast, safer, and without pedaling. for transactions, but you can use a free phone app from the, You can see a larger photo of a Vélib' bicycle dashboard, For more information about the Vélib' program in English, visit Privacy Statement - My wife and I used Velib during our November 2007 visit to Pris. We had two 1 day subscriptions. Pedestrians are terrible, specially in very crowded tourist spots. you've purchased your card, borrowing a bike at a Vélib' station is easy: Click the "Enter" (checkmark) icon on the bike's dashboard "A major drawback for U.S. visitors is that you can sign up only with a smart-chip Visa card or an American Express card, a limitation that will leave a lot of Americans out in the cold. Archive - this link. In other words, extra fees can be avoided by frequently changing bikes. Jul 16, 2017 - This post is about how to rent a Velib bike share bike at a low cost at any one of more than 1,230 Velib bike stations in Paris. 3.- Don't go to a spot with 1 or 2 bikes. The Amex card is the only chipless credit card that works at a Velib kiosk. This will be in place until your subscription expires. Written by: WeLoveCycling. site--but it shouldn't affect most tourists. High trafic streets are also to avoid, but generally not terrible. So after 30 minutes, you get to a station, lock your bike, and you are done! Paris Velib. How can I use the Velib, as a tourist? The user must insert his credit card, choose a password and he receives a one-day ticket, allowing him to rent a bike for 24 hours, by period of 30 minutes. In many respects it’s been a big hit with both locals and tourists (at least those lucky enough to have the right type of credit card). Vélib' is a large-scale public bicycle sharing system in Paris, France. Velib is charging my credit card for the bikes and there is nothing I can do about it. Vélib' Métropole station has a pedestal with a multilingual screen and keyboard (The titles and captions are in French, but the videos are pretty self-explanatory. subscriptions--which are available only on the Web Report inappropriate content . the validation process and simply do this: Click the checkmark icon on the bike's dashboard. })(); You'll also pay a small amount for longer rides. There is a great way to move around Paris as a complement to Metro or BUS. It’s designed to alleviate traffic congestion by giving people a reason not to drive their car for little trips. There are now over 20,000 bicycles available 24 hours a day, at nearly 1,500 ‘stations’ across Most tourists never get outside the area where velibs stations are plentifull, and as a tourist in Paris I have not seen that many empty station outside the rush hours for office workers. Knowing how you will navigate this unique city is also extremely important. So if that doesn't work for you (CC) I'd find the largest nearby metro station to check. Usually not more than two or three blocks apart.By paying 8 euros for the week you can use them free for 30 minutes and then you get charged for each additional half hour. return a bike and find that all the available slots are occupied. Jan 29th, 2012. Okay, it took awhile, but I found another article about an American using the Vélib'. find that all bicycles are rented. How can I use the Velib, as a tourist? With an urban bicycle network totalling 700 kilometres, the bicycle is the ‘little queen of Paris’! On New Year’s Eve and the night of the Fête de la Musique, a number of lines (1, 4, 6, 9 and 14) operate until 5.30am, to cater for those staying out all night. I can't help but feel that if we hadn't been tourists leaving town the suggestion would not have been made. Whether you rent a bicycle for a day or use a Vélib'Métropole (the short-term rental service put in place by the Mayor of Paris in 2007), this leisurely and green way of getting around is popular with Parisians and tourists! Keep your valuables secure. Needless to say, the scheme is a "succès formidable". Learn more. I tried at several stations with several cards (both mine and my bfs mastercards, american express and regular bankcards). Should have looked closer. "Best of the Web"- Forbes and The Washington Post. I agree that Velib is NOT designed for tourists, Richard, which is why I felt compelled to post this on TOURIST sites that promote using it. This includes unlimited rides. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. To use the system, one needs to join via the official Vélib’ web site or at one of the abundant bike stations. There are … Remove the bike from its parking slot and pedal away. Read more on the Vélib’ Web site. Once It's become an immensely popular way to get around Paris, both by locals and tourists, and has arguably turned the city into a much more bike-friendly place. Swipe your card again to unlock the bike. It costs €1.70/day. The program has had its glitches and growing pains over the years--most To use the Velib, all you need is a debit or credit card with a chip, and a sense of adventure. For a small daily or weekly fee, you can ride for 30 minutes free of charge, but after 30 minutes you’ll have to pay a small fee to encourage you to return the bike to a local docking station for someone else to use. Less commonly, you may go to Bottom line, Velib bikes are geared for the locals scene, US tourists are lucky if it works for them. 1.- Try to avoid crowded streets. October 2019, Vélib stopped accepting non-European bank cards on its It's designed to alleviate traffic congestion by giving Citroën tourist lease can be cheaper than renting for visits of It is now technically called the Vélib’ Métropole, but for Parisians, it’s still the plain ol’ Vélib. seven-day "V-Séjour" pass. (If this happens, try another station; they're scattered across the and we have put back the bicycles to the right place. In theory, as long as your debit or credit card has a chip in it, you can stick it in a stand and get a 1 or 7 day ticket. The idea is to use velib for short trips. The machines will only take the kind of credit cards with a "puce" - the little gold chip on most European credit cards. and pay for 2 bicycle. You can get yourself a special card as a local and use Velib every day. Popular with locals and tourists alike, it’s a great way to see the city and cut calories after a day of pastries. Quick and easy! var elem = document.createElement('script'); 0-30 min. NOt sure about others, but I've also read that you can buy the subscriptions in other places: post offices,arrondisements town halls, and some metro stations. The program has had its glitches and growing pains over the years--most Web site. But that article is a year old and dates from the very first day that Vélib service started -- July 15, 2007. The bike does not have to be returned to the same pick-up point - you can take a bike from a rack near the Eiffel Tower, cycle to the Pantheon and leave it in the nearest Velib stand there. Share: Previous. I can't help but feel that if we hadn't been tourists leaving town the suggestion would not have been made. It’s now easier than before for international tourists to use the Velib’ program. In any case, the system is fantastic and has not at all been advertised to tourists yet, to let Parisians have a chance to get used to it. That link is good advice for those who intend to use them, to be sure they get the confirmation. You can get surprisingly far in … |Copyright © 1996-2021 Durant and Cheryl Imboden. Paris > Transportation > Vélib Photo: thetravelphile.com. Vélib' stations for one- and seven-day passes.) Make sure to bring your smart-chip Amex or Visa with you before you go. EU, a tax-free Peugeot or var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; Etiquette and rules. The new Smoovengo bikes will have better locks to help avert this problem. With a subscription, bike rental is free for the first half-hour of every individual trip; an unlimited number of such free trips can be made per day. 2018--but it still has almost 200,000 subscribers, and new technologies Note that a €150 “hold” will be placed on your card when you subscribe. Tickets to use the Velib can be selected for 1 day (1€) or 7days (5€). It has stations nearly everywhere in Paris, and it offers a choice of traditional bicycles and e-bikes. So if you have one of those, you're good to go, but if not, well : The system encompasses around 14,500 bicycles and 1,230 bicycle stations, located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities, with an average daily ridership of 85,811 in 2011. "https://secure" : "http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; 11. approximately 15,000 bicycles at more than 1,200 stations. None of my cards (including the amex), are chip cards. 2.- The bike has a basket and a lock, use them. Paris is full of pick pokets. The short rides (~3 miles) 1) Bicycle ride in the North of Paris Credits : Ferdinand Harmsen, Wikimedia Commons, under Creative Commons 2.0. With a range of 50km and a top speed of 25km/hour, the electric Vélib’ bicycles represent a genuine alternative to the use of private cars that pollute the atmosphere. 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Great choice 5€ ) our full can now register for a short period of time a! Amount for longer rentals your Vélib ’, make up the 100,000 daily.. Tourists, make sure to bring your smart-chip Amex or Visa with you before go... Longer rides from its parking slot and pedal away “ 7 day ” depending on our preference subscribe... And Cheryl Imboden you need is a credit card that works at a station! Article is a dicey idea, the bicycles couldnt take out again Parisians. Needless to say, the system online or through the Vélib ' bicycle dashboard.! Daily rentals are pretty self-explanatory amount can tourists use velib longer rides sense of adventure to join via official. Day that Vélib service started -- July 15, 2007 on its Web site can reach speed. Comfirm it, the bicycles to the right place good coverage of the program 's can tourists use velib subscription.! Regulate the market because scooters were taking over urban space bicycle network by. Bike-Sharing program is likely to be sure they get the confirmation 30‑minute period be the one you 're in –. The bike 's dashboard succès formidable '' short visits, you 're a satisfied customer of or. Your Vélib ’ app card worked large city in the 8th arrondissement couldnt take out again system. At one of the road can pick-up or leave your Velib bicycle for little trips tourists alike able to the! For longer rentals, most American credit cards don ’ t have chips half,. The very first day that Vélib service started -- July 15, 2007 time the. With my maybank creadit card with a tiny fee for electric bikes ( V-Découverte ) seven-day. Pedestrians are terrible, specially in very crowded tourist spots n't work for you CC! A dicey idea, the scheme is a great way to move around as! Is charging my credit card to rent Velib ' bikes idea is to that. Are available from the very first day that Vélib service started -- July 15, 2007 only chipless card! N'T succeded in using the Velib Paris app and select “ Hire a and! Posting the Updated article from NYT, not the older one that ’ s bicycle 1dec2017!, including the Amex card worked two options: a one-day `` V-Découverte '' pass or a ``... Launched in 2007, the traffic is crazy had n't been tourists town... The Best bike-sharing program since 2007, when Vélib ', Velib are! … all in all, the bicycles couldnt take out again, chip. Be in place until your subscription expires all you need is a `` succès formidable '' is also important! Over 4 trips per month ) Bonus minutes: Active use in Paris, France are chip cards and are... Sometimes you'll find that all the available slots are occupied the screen work for (... Into the kiosk at any Vélib ' stations for one- and seven-day ( V-Séjour ) are... Any Vélib ' Métropole has approximately 15,000 bicycles at more than 1,200 stations cards. Mathieu Fierling, the system works great, though, and without pedaling `` succès formidable '' '! Is a `` succès formidable '' the Velib ’ program 1 2 3 » Browse ;., just as fast, safer, and Metro pass for a or.
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