Yesterday we happily posted about Velib Bikes and the transformative effect they've had on Paris. But it's hardly the only bike-sharing program in the world; lots of other European cities offer similar schemes.

Instead of covering them all ourselves, we rely on The Bike-Sharing Blog, an aggregator of public cycling news from a consulting firm that specializes in the subject. Perhaps the coolest thing they've put together? A bike-sharing world map that tracks which cities have programs and gives links to those individual websites. Find it embedded after the jump.]]> pbb 2008-07-18T12:35:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/17/105919/540

Happy belated birthday, Velib! The Parisian bike-sharing program turned one on July 15, and things are still going gangbusters with 1,451 stations, 20,600 bicycles and 3 million subscribers. There's even an iPhone app to help you find the Velib locations closest to you.

While haters will point out that a few dozen people have been injured and even killed while touring the city on Velibs, the environmental impact of the cycle-sharing scheme can't be denied. Biking advocates on the other hand wax poetic about how much nicer the program has made the city for residents and visitors alike.

After the jump, a well-done video about Velib's first year.]]> pbb 2008-07-17T11:00:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/6/54122/73956

Yes, Velib bikes will get you around Paris, but unless you're familiar with the city, you may be too distracted by trying to read rue signs to see the sights. Before you know it your 30 Velib minutes are up and you're racing to find the nearest bike rack.

Enter Fat Tire Bike Tours, the best four hours (and $37) you might spend in Paris. Run by a group of young, in-the-know Americans, they've got a laid back attitude and effortless cool that makes for a surprisingly refreshing guided tour experience.]]> CourtScott 2008-06-06T14:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/29/171616/502

Yeah, pedals, not petals. Something about this super nice weather has us wanting to rent a bike and ride around some parks. Picnicking and day drinking are, of course, optional.

In Paris, those Velib bikes are the way to go, and other European cities have similar bike-sharing programs. Stateside, Washington, DC is launching a similar program next month, starting with a fleet of 120 bikes. The initiative is called SmartBike DC, though its set-up seems a little less tourist-friendly than some other programs. (Something about a $40 annual fee...)

At NYC's Central Park, you can go official and rent bikes at The Boathouse or just grab one from a tout in Columbus Circle. Oh, and if you shoot a crazy video while biking, do send it our way.

Related Stories:
· Velib [Official Site]
· DC to Launch Nation's First Euro-Style Bikes [AP, via Google]
· Bike Rentals at the Boathouse [Official Site]
· Europe Loves "Free" Bikes [Jaunted]
· Even Americans Can Ride Velibs [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-04-29T17:17:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/6/233717/8457

After the successful introduction of the nearly free bike rental program called Velib in Paris last year, the city's mayor has just announced they're going to follow it up with a similar scheme using small cars.

The Voiturelib program will involve a fleet of small blue cars at stations around the city. Tourists and residents will both be able to pick up a car without booking ahead, use it for a small charge, then leave it at another station anywhere in Paris. (God knows the one thing Paris needs is more clueless drivers.)

They're going to start the system up with 2,000 cars and see how it works out. We can just imagine the day when tourists hop in all the cars at once and get stuck at the impossible traffic roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe.

Related Stories:
· Paris to Offer Public Electric Cars [Jamble]
· Velib Bike Rentals Super Popular in Paris [Jaunted]
· One Velib, Si'l Vous Plait [Jaunted]

[Photo: ohad*]]]> amandak 2008-01-08T09:20:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/29/9939/0237

We know all about Paris' Velib bike rental program, but as it turns out, the City of Light isn't the only European destination with a biking obsession. Barcelona, Seville and Stockholm all have bike rentals available, though the Spanish programs seem like a bit more of a hassle than they might be worth.

In Barcelona, the scheme is called Bicing and will cost you €1 for a weekly subscription and about $1 an hour after your first, free 30 minutes. You'll have to register for the rentals before arriving in Spain, unless you're planning to be there awhile and don't mind waiting for your rental card to show up.

Seville's program is Sevici, and it's €5 for a weekly subscription with small charges added for riding time. Its burly bikes are more reminiscent of Paris', while the Barcelona bikes are a bit lighter duty.

That same style of bike is also in play in Stockholm, where the rental season is set to wrap up this Wednesday. While that may seem like bad news, do you really want to be riding on two wheels in the dark, frigid Swedish winter? Better to wait until next April when the program restarts with more bikes and more stations all over the city.

Related Stories:
· Free Bikes in Spain [Budget Travel]
· Bicing [Official Site]
· Sevici [Official Site]
· Stockholm City Bikes [Official Site]
· Velib Bikes coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-10-29T09:20:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/18/135037/16

Ah, Paris in the fall. The museums, the crisp walks along the Seine... the transit strikes? Hey, that's France for you. Almost all the trains have stopped and the only subway that's running--Line 14--is automated. So what's a person to do?

Bikes are the way forward. The Velib program was suffering from bike shortages even before the strike, so don't count on that as a sure-fire way to get around. Still, you may be able to score one if you park yourself in front of a docking station and wait a few minutes.

If loitering isn't your thing, get over to Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris in the 15th arrondissement. It's more of a tour company, but Fat Tire also do straight-up bike rentals. Rates start at €2 an hour and you can get the whole day for €15 ($21). But whatever you do, don't fret--the strike could be over by tomorrow.

Update: Dr. Vino wine blogger Tyler Colman reminds us of another way to handle the strike: Give up on getting around and get sloshed at a local wine bar.

Related Stories:
· Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris [Official Site]
· Velib Bikes coverage [Jaunted]
· Paris Wine Shops [Dr. Vino]

[Photo: jurvetson]]]> pbb 2007-10-18T14:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/