Are you wondering whether you should try the Velib bike share system when you are in Paris? The short answer is: Yes, try it! We did and were blown away by Velib. This post is about how to use Velib bikes to make your vacation in Paris even better.<\/p>\n
Update 2018<\/strong>: Please note that this post is based on our experiences in May 2017. Just about that time, the service was taken over by a new provider, Franco-Spanish start-up Smovengo. Smovengo promised to make things better, including replacing many bikes and bringing in many electric bikes. But there ambitious plans were wrecked by technical glitches and even worker strikes, with the result that user numbers began to drop considerably. Some users complained of feeling deliberately ripped off, when they could not find any bikes that worked. As of late 2018, the problems persist, with the result that many Velib bikes cannot be used. Hopefully, Paris will soon find a way to remedy the situation and get this wonderful service back on line again. Angry Parisian cyclists are urging her on, as they miss their Velib bikes. These bikes are well loved, and at one point one third of bikes on Parisian streets were Velib bikes. I truly hope that Paris will find a solution and get them operating smoothly again.<\/p>\n This video gives you an idea of what it is like to ride Velib bikes in Paris:<\/p>\n