Bike Sharing Paris

Jenny, Until recently Americans could not use the service as our country's credit cards do not contain the required computer chip. Last Fall they added the ability to pay online and get a code to access the bikes. I am headed back the Paris in June and plan to try it out for the first time. It is explained pretty well on the website. When are you in Paris?

We will be in Paris in the second week of July. And yes website does have very detailed info. We have parks and dedicated bike paths in mind. Our apartment will be near St. Martin's Canal, and I saw that there are stations all along the scenic part of the canal. Looks like there are dedicated bike paths along the river between Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower too. Have a lovely trip, let me know how the biking goes.

Velib, like other big-city bike services, is designed for commuting, not tourists. Its price structure encourages short rides. The hourly rate rises, rather than falling, the longer you have the bike.

We used it last summer, got an America Express with the chip and pin deal. It was kinda hard to get it figured out initially but a very helpful lady who needed our spot got us straightened out. If you use it for like 30-45 minutes it was no charge or maybe one euro. We kept them four hours one evening and rode all over and the cost was maybe 20 euros for both bikes. Thing is there are kiosks all over and what you need to plan on is just exchanging bikes every hour or so to keep the cost under control. Come on you are in Paris, spring for a few bucks and have fun. Fat Tire bikes is 25 or 30 euros for 24 hours so that is not a cheap option either. We are going back in September and will use it again.

Jenny,
When we were in Paris this last fall we made the observation that riding a bike in this big city is dangerous. You have to know how traffic flows and be able to predict how drivers will respond to a cyclist in their way. So if you go, stay off the streets!