Paris: Vélib' Adventures

4 pm on a sunny Friday - You arrive at a vélib' station and you are lucky: There's exactly one bicyle left. Any person living in Paris would try to stop you if they could. But you just put your "carte d'abonné" on the reader and the light flips from green to orange, then back to a flashing green light. You can free the bike from the station. AAAND, it has a flat tyre. -.-

As if this would  happen at ANY time (okay maybe during a hailstorm)

Experienced vélib users know them too well: the one or two "alibi"-bicycles, left-overs of an unheeding user with broken lamps, saddles, flat tyres or a loose chain.

For the people who are asking now: " "Carte d'abonné"? Vélib'? Station? What are you even talking about?": 

"Vélib’ is a large-scale public bicycle sharing system in Paris, France. Launched on 15 July 2007, the system encompasses around 14,000 bicycles and 1,230 bicycle stations,^[1] located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities, with an average daily ridership of 85,811 in 2011.^[3] The name Vélib' is a portmanteau of the French words vélo (English: "bicycle") and liberté ("freedom")"

Yes, I "wikied" that for you.

A subscription for one year costs about 29€. The first 30min are free. And that's probably the reason why, looking at all these crazy racing people on bikes in Paris, the ones on vélibs are still riding the fastest. 

Only few tourists realize that a vélib subsription for a day is possible and costs about 1,70€ (as much as one ride with the métro). I'd really recommend it because from bicycle lanes you see Paris differently. And furthermore, you can go faster. 

Expect for the bicycles out of order you can complain about the lack of bikes on the "prime times" before and after work (8 am / 4-6 pm). 

And they're ugly. They look kinda "2007", don't they?

Subscribe via Internet: velib.paris.fr/. There are several discounts (e.g. one for students). And you can get your subscription on your PassNavigo

Riding a bike, especially a vélib (because you just don't have the time - so get out of my way, bastards!!!) can be stressful in Paris. But if you aren't busy at the moment not being hit by a bus or a taxi, it can be (almost) pleasant and (SOMETIMES) even stunning. 

This pretty much sums up how every vélib-user feels like (or at least me): 

My best vélib adventure by now: The time I didn't get the bicycle lane configuration in front of "Quai de la Rapée" and the fact that I am not able to balance the vélib between my legs while standing. Result: I end up on the ground.

My opinion: I really love my vélib', as long as it doesn't go too far...

Just hope you get it done in less than 30 minutes...