Tech | July 16, 2008 | 12 comments

Bicycle thieves: 3,000 of Paris's free bicycles stolen

source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/thieves-ride-off-with-3000-of-pariss-free-bic...

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The self-service, Parisian bike-for-hire – the vélib' – was intended mostly for short rides when it was introduced 12 months ago.

More than 3,000 of the sturdy grey bicycles have gone missing since then. Some have turned up as far away as Romania and, according to one report, Australia. Another 3,000 have been deliberately destroyed or damaged. But the 16,000 bikes in circulation have proved extremely popular. The idea – a cheap, computerised system of self-service bicycles in racks on almost every street corner – has been exported to countries across the world, including Austria and Spain, with plans for a similar system in Finland, Australia and the United States.

The vélib' has had its problems. Three vélib' users have been killed. Motorists complain that the bikes have tempted thousands of unskilled, unwary cyclists on to the unforgiving streets of the French capital. The 1,200 automated vélib' racks have also occupied thousands of spaces which used to be available for on-street parking. One enraged motorist ceremonially "hanged" a vélib' bike on a parking sign.

The vélib' has also been hailed as a triumphant, new form of win-win public service. All the proceeds go to the Paris Town Hall, which has pocketed €20m in the first year. All the costs are borne by the street advertising company JCDecaux. In return for providing and servicing the bikes, the firm has been given 1,600 free advertising spaces.

(Excerpts / John Lichfield, The Independent)
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12 comments // Bicycle thieves: 3,000 of Paris's free bicycles stolen

  • cakemix
    • 0
      cakemix  

    • So no one noticed the 6,000 wheel getaway? They must've all pinned paper numbers to their backs. :]

      (clearly, they didn't all run off at the same time. just a funny thought.)

    • 4 years ago
  • Akash
    • 0
      Akash  

    • i knew there was gona be theft but 3000??? babylon gona fall...america is the most dangerous to out planet...why don't they come up with any good ideas???? something instead of air con bcas thats one mean bitch the the environment

    • 4 years ago
  • Julie_Soller
    • 0
      Julie_Soller  

    • I think the Paris program is far more successful than a few whiny Parisian motorists would want you to think. Sure they don't want to share the road with unskilled bicyclists, and sure a few hapless riders get their clock cleaned by motorists. But that would happen anyway. Over all, it's better to get people off their duffs and biking than in their cars. Better for everyone.

      But they will have to refine their bicycle anti-theft system.

    • 4 years ago
  • lecoke
  • 1percent
    • 0
      1percent  

    • Be warned, there are those of us who believe in bike karma.

      Hook it up and your all good.

      Steal a bike, you better watch out!

      Ride on!

    • 4 years ago
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  

    • That's soo bad and here is why we all lose our freedom. Some people complain about losing their freedom but they do not realize the motive behind their losses.

    • 4 years ago
  • meligrosa
    • 0
      meligrosa  

    • it just makes no sense.
      - at least here in SF, they would all be found by the GG park, with all new components, or camouflaged-repainted in disguise by the mission-BestBuy...

    • 4 years ago
  • rainbowsinthesky
    • 0
      rainbowsinthesky  

    • thats the problem with the world today.... and why the world will come to an end at our own hands.... there is enough for everyone, yet we have to be selfish and hoard

    • 4 years ago
  • jade_azul16
  • purplefox
  • Emil_G
  • lecoke
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