Vélo'v
Vélo'v is a bicycle rental service run by the city of Lyon, France, in conjunction with the advertising company JCDecaux. The relationship with JCDecaux allows the city to provide the service on a cost neutral basis for the city, and at very low cost to users, in return for providing exclusive advertising access on bus shelters and the like. The primary aim is to reduce vehicle traffic within the city. The scheme also aims to reduce pollution, create a convivial atmosphere within the city, and encourage the health benefits of increased activity. Its name is a portemanteau of French vélo (bike) and English love.
Overview
The service began on the 19th of May 2005 and now provides over 3000 bicycles available from over 350 stations situated around the cities of Lyon and Villeurbanne. The aim is to have stations within 300m of every point in the city. The bicycles can be returned to any other station. Access is via a subscription system in which a card is purchased online or at a station giving the user an account and a PIN with which they access bicycles through a terminal situated at the bicycle stations.
Rentals can last from less than 30 minutes up to 24 hours and are available to anyone 14 years and over holding a Carte Vélo'v (subscription card for the service).
The June 2006 edition of the Vélo'v newsletter reported that over 22,000 rentals per day were made by the over 52,000 subscribers to the service, an increase of 44% in a year, and representing 6,400,000 km traveled for the year.
There is no receipt in that scheme other than the dispensation of a code to unlock the bike, after payment. The advertised price is €1 for one bike for one day (24 hours). Depite the cost stated clearly at the rental station, the company will take additional funds off a credit card for bikes rented for any period greater than an hour but still less than 24 hours. Certain people have found that they have returned home after a short vacation in the city only to see that Velo'V have charged up to 100 euros for single day bike rental. On contacting the company, the attitude has been one of denial on how the costs are displayed on their machines.
Bicycles
Vélo'v bicycles, along with a lock and basket, contain electronic components which allow the bicycle to be identified by the stations, allow tracking of kilometers traveled, tracking of the condition of the bicycles, (lights, brakes, dynamo), and collection of detailed statistics about the usage of the bicycles.
Video game
For the 2006 edition of the Festival of Lights, Lyon had been partly modelized in order to create a video game named Velo'v racing in Lyon, created by B2B Games. Pedestrians could play for free from December 7 to December 10 and the game was broadcast on screens on place de la République.
See also
External links
- vélo'v Grand Lyon - vélo'v Official Site
- vélo'v Map and Availability - Google Maps mashup
- Inauguration - copy of Guardian article from August 12, 2005
- video 10 min video to explain the Vélo'v system