News
Cycle hire scheme organisers defiant
Jonathon Harker Jul 10 2009, 11:24am
Theft-hit Paris cycle initiative targeting growth despite setbacks
According to this report on BikeEurope, the Paris Cycle Hire scheme is set for expansion despite suffering high levels of vandalism and theft – with half the original fleet going missing.
A further 300 hire stations and 3,300 bikes will be launched before the end of the year, while a ‘vandal-proof’ Velib bike is being developed for the Paris city council.
The hire scheme is also broadening its reach beyond the city centre, stretching into Boulogne-Billancourt to the west of the Paris – the first suburb to see the scheme. The cost of the expansion is reported to be €8 million.
Cycle hire is an initiative being introduced across a number of European cities, including Barcelona – where uptake of the scheme has exceeded expectations. Transport for London revealed that it would be launching a similar scheme last May, while some UK train stations are set to see Dutch-style 'CyclePoint' shops with bike hire facilities - possibly including Paddington Station.
