This is so cool. Could it happen in a major city here? Seattle? Boston? Bueller?
Basically, the company that does bus stop shelters and the accompanying ads, as well as public toilets in Paris has just launched a community bike program. Yes, the bikes have ads all over them. But, now Paris has "20,000 heavy-duty bicycles in 750 or so special racks around the city and anyone who wants one simply swipes his or her ordinary travel card and pedals off wherever they want to go."
This was something that would never have happened with government funds, even in the land of lefty subsidies.
And in mostly unrelated un-news, here is one of my favorite de-motivators.
Vive la France!
1 comment:
And here's an article (in French- sorry Arbitrista!) about the possibility that the same company will launch a similar program for cars in Paris. A bit like the Zipcar program in some US cities.
http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/societe/261794.FR.php
And a similar program (Communauto) in Montreal is mentioned in the comments.
car sharing: good.
bike sharing: better.
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