Less than 7 years after its launch on 15 July 2007, the world’s largest self-service bicycle scheme system Vélib’ has proven to be an exceptional and highly popular form of public transport.
The numbers say it all:
- A total of 23,600 bicycles available at 1,751 terminals in Paris and in 30 surrounding districts.
- Between 100,000 and 150,000 rentals every day.
- 267,000 long-term subscriptions (1 year).
- 35 million rentals in 2013 (up 20% on 2012).
- Each bike is hired on average more than five times a day.
March 2014 was a record month that saw over 200 million rentals and achieved a 48% increase in comparison to March 2013. The system’s popularity is due to the mild weather and, to a lesser extent, the free service offered during the pollution peak in Paris and its inner suburbs. These figures reflect the public’s growing interest in this eco-friendly method of transport and demonstrate the scheme’s added value in combating pollution.
Providing a real complement to public transport, self-service bicycle schemes have helped to improve the quality of city life and optimise public transport, meeting current environmental concerns. JCDecaux’s self-service bicycle hire system owes its success to the will from the outset to make it user friendly and available to everyone: adapted pricing, payment by credit cards, incorporation into general public transport subscription cards, online subscription and instructions in multiple foreign languages at terminals. Its success also stems from the system’s comprehensive city coverage, reliability, maintenance, regulation and customer service.
Jean-Charles Decaux, Co-Chief Executive Officer of JCDecaux, said: “We are very proud of the success of our self-service bicycle schemes in France and of Vélib’ in particular, which this weekend has passed the threshold of over 200 million rentals. This confirms the popularity of this user-friendly and eco-friendly method of travel and reflects the quality of service offered by JCDecaux’s teams, who oversees the rigorous maintenance and optimised regulation of each system every day. By creating a unique form of transport that complements all existing public transport networks, JCDecaux is meeting the needs of local communities with a sustainable solution, through a virtuous business model that protects their budgets, by providing a public service funded by advertising.”
