After a two-year absence — caused first by a long transit strike and then by the much longer coronavirus pandemic — I finally returned to Paris for two brief visits in the summer of 2021 and was relieved to find that the Vélib’ bike sharing system was still working fine. Read More …
The first-generation Vélib’ bike sharing system in Paris began operations on the afternoon of Sunday, July 15, 2007. Unfortunately I wasn’t in Paris on that day, so I can’t give a first-hand report, but from clicking on French media outlets I learned that the new bikes were used more than Read More …
In the summer of 2008 I took out a seven-day subscription (for a mere five Euros at the time) to the Vélib’ system of short-term spontaneous bicycle rentals and spent the week touring Paris on these sturdy and nearly-free machines. The Vélib’ station at Place Johann Strauss (first photo) was Read More …
When I finally returned to Paris in February 2011, I was pleased to find that the Vélib’ bicycle transit system was in good shape and still going strong after three-and-a-half years of operation. I bought a weekly ticket and traveled around Paris exclusively by Vélib’. Didn’t use the Métro once Read More …
In June 2012 I stayed at a small hotel in rue Lally Tollendal in the 19th arrondissement, in the northeast corner of Paris. At first I thought it was a bit far from the center, but after I knew the way it only took me 22 minutes by Vélib’ bike Read More …
In 2013 I went to Paris four times, in May, July, August and October. Each time I stayed in a different part of the city (in the 14th, 13th, 8th and 10th arrondissements) and each time I booked a seven-day Vélib’ subscription, which at that time cost eight Euros (it Read More …
2014 was another big Vélib’ year for me. I visited Paris in February, July and August (staying in the 10th, 6th and 2nd arrondissements) and took out a seven-day Vélib’ subscription each time. This was the year I discovered Le Lucernaire, the “national center for the arts and experimentation” just Read More …
On a Sunday morning in June 2015 I rode over to the Avenue des Champs-Elysées to have a look at an event called Les 24h de Vélib’ = The 24 hours of Vélib’. Why it was called that I don’t know, since it actually lasted only twelve hours, from 8 am Read More …
In 2016 I only went to Paris once. I stayed at a small hotel called Hôtel du Brésil on rue Le Goff, which is in the 5th arrondissement near the Luxembourg Gardens and the Panthéon. My reason for choosing this particular hotel was that it is close to a train Read More …
2017 was the last year of the original, first-generation Vélib’ bike sharing system in Paris. The JCDecaux company, which had run the system since its inauguration in 2007, was willing to continue but failed to win the bidding. The new contract, for the fifteen years from 2018 to 2033, was Read More …