Velib Bike Rentals in Paris?

Jeremy: Velib is a standard urban bike-share program. You buy a membership for a day (or week, or year) that is linked to your credit card. While your membership is active, the first 30 minutes are free. You go to a bike station where there are masses of bikes locked in place and claim a bike. You return the bike to any bike station and lock it there. If you do so within 30 minutes, no charge. You can repeat as often as you like. The program is designed not for all-day sightseers but for Parisians to get about. The charge for keeping a bike past 30 minutes actually increases per half hour period to discourage all-day use. The bikes are heavy and sturdy, if you want a nicer bike and for longer you should rent one. The stations are everywhere and you do not need to lean them against buildings. If you do it is at your own risk. Remember, they have your credit card. Europeans can check out bikes on the spot with their credit cards. Americans must reserve online (you get a code number). It works but you need an internet device. Paris is pretty bike friendly with lots of marked bike lanes. Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Helmets are unusual in France and in any case are not provided. Most of the above from a friend who was in Paris with her family recently.

I'm pretty sure an AmEx will work, but not the other two.

Thanks Adam! That was very informative! So basically, even though you pay to subscribe (for a day, week, or year), you are encouraged to ride the bikes for up to 30 minutes at a time and going over that will result in overages? You also stated "Americans must reserve online (you get a code number). It works but you need an internet device." - that's a little confusing to me. If you have a code, do you just punch the code in at the Velib station to unlock a bike and go from there? Why would you need to have an internet device w/ you at the time? Thanks again!

Ed, by "other two" I take it you mean Mastercard and Visa? And I'd presume Discover as well?

Amex magnetic strip cards are accepted at the Kiosks. But only Visa/MC chip & pin card will work at these Kiosks. For MC/Visa you'll have to reserve via the web site.

Awesome. I have a Costco TrueEarnings Amex as well as my Amex Blue. So both should work then?

Those cards should work at the Kiosks. Amex was an original sponsor of Velib, so they got the Kiosks rigged for only their mag strip cards. Although Amex isn't an official sponsor anymore, there haven't been any reports that they have modified the machines.

Here's the source: http://en.velib.paris.fr/

Jeremy, You need to understand that it is a bike sharing program and not a bike rental program as you suggest in your original posting. It is designed to provide local transportation between point A and point B. You take a bike from the rack and ride it to you next point and place it in the rack. If total time is 30 minutes or less it is free(beyond the daily membership fee. If more than 30 a small charge. After an hour the fee goes up rapidly to discourage someone from using it all day as a bike rental. If you want a bike for all day, then you need to rental a bike from a bike shop. Only an Am Express card and the local chip and pin cards work. Riding is mixed. Some streets, some bike paths, and some paths marked on streets. Never on sidewalks. You can provide your own helmet, nor are provided. It is the first 30 mins after you pull the bike from the rack. Do it as often as you like during the day. I cannot remember of these bikes had the rear lock on the tire. Think not. However, most bike rentals do with a small key. Small amount of security as the lock can be easily defeated and it only discourages someone getting on and riding away. Doesn't prevent it from being carried away.

When you go to the website that Southam provided click on the "How it Works" tab and read the return instructions very carefully. Always make sure you get a green light. If you don't, the clock keeps running and the bike can be taken by somebody who hasn't registered for it. Remember - they have your credit card.

Thanks guys. I think I understand the usage. Seems like it's perfect for a city like Paris. i.e, if you're in a rush and can't get there by walking faster but don't want to take the Metro (or are going somewhere that the Metro won't get you to exactly), the Velib fills the gap. Seems like this would be useful for tourists, but you'd sorta have to know where to drop off the bikes too, and alternate locations in case a station is full.

It is very handy. Denver was the first city in the US to implement a similar program three years ago. Has been very successful and was expanded this year to a couple of the close in suburbs. More people should try it as it makes a lot of sense when you only want to go a couple of miles or so.

Jeremy -- in response to your last comment: exactly. You'll also find now that many city maps (I use the "Indispensable" myself) have Velib points marked on the maps just as metro stations and bus stops are. Or you can go to any bookshop and buy a specific Velib map for a couple of euros.

There's an app for that. Well, several.

Good point, Nigel!