Get on your bike to see Paris from a different perspective
A holiday in Paris is not what springs to mind when it comes to budget travel; visiting the City of Light will generally set you back quite a bit of money. One way to make a dent in the overall cost of a holiday in Paris, though, is by taking advantage of its relatively new Vélib’ bicycle rental system. By doing that, you can zip around the city in style — and you won’t even have to drag your own bike with you to and from Paris hotels. Sounds like a win-win situation, right? It mostly is, although there are a few downsides to things; read on to learn more.
How Does The Vélib’ Street Bike Programme Work?
More than 750 automated rental stations are scattered around Paris, many of which are located conveniently near hotels in Paris. At these Vélib’ machines, you can rent a bicycle to ride around the city at your leisure. For the truly budget-conscious traveler who plans on using the bikes a lot while in Paris, a subscription is usually the best way to go and can be purchased for €1 per day. With it, you can pick up Vélib’ bikes at kiosks around Paris — the first 30 minutes is free. This way, you can check out different Paris hotels — and get a whole new perspective of the city – from a bicycle.
Pros Of The Vélib’ Programme And Riding A Bike Around Paris
Just as certain hotels in Paris are better deals than others, certain modes of transportation are more economical than others. Without a doubt, the Vélib’ programme is a very budget friendly way to get around Paris. Since there are many squares and parks scattered around the city, traveling by bike is more practical in many ways. Most Paris hotels are amenable to bicyclists and can direct you to the nearest Vélib’ kiosk. Best of all, you can get a bit of exercise that you otherwise wouldn’t when traveling mostly by Metro or by automobile.
Cons Of The Vélib’ Programme
Like anything else, there are downsides to using the Vélib’ programme and its bicycles. If you see bikes with their seats turned around, that means they are out of commission — an all too familiar sight. Some Paris hotels are quite far flung from the nearest Vélib’ kiosk, making it difficult to take great advantage of the system and requiring either lengthy walks or short cab rides. Some of the Vélib’ rental stations have clocks that aren’t properly synchronized, creating billing problems. One other thing, the Vélib’ pricing scale is weighted: keep one for too long and the cost mounts up — keep it a day and the cost is €150! Best to hop from rank to rank to keep the hourly charges low.
Overall, the Paris Vélib’ programme is a wonderful way to see Paris when on holiday. As the slogan says, “La Ville Est Plus Belle A Velo” — or, “The city’s beauty is more appreciated by bike.”
About the Author
Max is an author, writer and editor. He is married with two children and a cat and lives in south east London.
This article first appeared on amazines.com
