Comments on: The Velib Way in Paris

By: John

John — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:45:58 +0000

I have not finished editing it. My first 2 efforts at video were poor so I need to spend a bit more time learning how to use the video editor before uploading another one.

By: Mira Bangel

Mira Bangel — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:49:50 +0000

Thanks for the link, John.
Where is the video? Did you upload it somewhere? Would be interesting to see it.

CHeers,

Mira

By: John

John — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:27:11 +0000

I went out to make a video to show how the CycloCity scheme worked earlier this year. Of course they took the bikes away and grubbed up all the stations the week before. My blog post on it is here: http://www.travelcrunch.co.uk/2009/03/19/making-a-public-transport-video-in-brussels/
I have been watching closely as the new Villo! Stations are installed. Perhaps I’ll try again then.

By: Rafaël

Rafaël — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:26:00 +0000

Moutains? In Brussels?! Where? =:-))
You probably mean the small hill to get out of the valley… =;-)) Well, they even thought about that! There is a plan to install a (how should I call it) “foot-elevator” to allow cyclists to get up the Coudenberg-hill without sweating to much. Could be a funny attraction also.

By: Mira Bangel

Mira Bangel — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:45:30 +0000

Great . Although Brussels has more mountains so it will be challenging.

Has any of you ever tried the system here in Brussels?

By: Rafaël

Rafaël — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:58:31 +0000

No need anymore to go to Paris for the Velib experience: a simmilar system is being installed in our very own Brussels. It’s called “Villo” and should be operational this month (may). Here’s what it will look like: http://www.brusselnieuws.be/artikels/stadsnieuws/cyclocity-wordt-villo-en-breidt-fors-uit
Let’s hope it’ll be a bigger succes than the former rent-a-bike tryout. The first 30 minutes will be for free, so I’m pretty confident more people will use the new villo’s.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:40:54 +0000

The Velib system has been operational for well over a year now but there are still at least two main issues. Firstly, there is a technical problem which means that sometimes people get overcharged and bikes are not always recognised as having been returned. Secondly, and linking to the problem of using “trucks to pick up bikes in the lower areas of the city to drop bring them to empty stations”, you can find that the place where you want to park is full so you have to park elsewhere and are therefore not at your destination which can cost you both time and money if you subsequently go over your 30 minute limit.

The UN are parnering an upcoming ‘Velo City’ event in Brussels which aims to promote bile use in bothe Brussels and Belgium itself. More information can be found on the following links: http://www.velo-city2009.com; http://www.dringdring.be/