Quantcast
Channel: Tourists Guide to Paris, France - Paris Revealed » Bicycle
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 2

Cycling Through Paris & Velib Bicycle Hire

0
0

velib bicycles ParisCycling has become an easy and fantastic way to travel around and explore Paris. While a few years ago, I wouldn’t have recommended it, cycling has become increasingly popular and is staunchly supported by the local government. There are hundreds of kilometers of cycleways, both dedicated paths and shared paths. Cycling in Paris is considered rather safe, although you are asked to remember that Paris is not Amsterdam and there are some busy streets that should be avoided (Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Bastille, Place el la Nation, Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Place de l’Etoile and Voie George Pompidou should be avoided by cyclists at all times). Generally speaking, Paris is a great place to cycle, with several cycling tours available.

Paris is also home to a unique take on public transport, the Velib Cycle System. This is how it works, you come across a Velib station, (it looks like a bicycle parking place, but all the bikes are the same), using your credit or debit card you buy a one or seven day ‘ticket’. This gives you unlimited half hour bicycle rides for either the day or the week. Your not supposed to keep one bike all day, nor even return it to its original station, rather you cycle to the Velib ‘Station’ nearest your destination or one thirty minutes away. There you return the bike, and either pick up another and continue on, or explore your destination then take a bike back to the station nearest your accommodation. If you keep the bike over the first ‘free’ half hour, you are charged €1, then €2 for the second thirty minutes, then €4 for every thirty minute block thereafter. With stations every 300m or so, the idea is you keep changing bikes every 30mins or just use it for short journeys. It really does work!

Should you want to have one bicycle for an entire day, the week, or want to join a bike tour, there are several good bicycle hire shops in Paris. My personal favorite is Fat Tire, near the Eiffel Tower, mainly because they also have an Internet Cafe and a ‘Concierge’ service that can make reservations, book tickets, give advice and generally plan your holiday. Should be self-catering, or your hotel lack a concierge, you’ll quickly realize how great this service is! Fat Tire offer Day and Night Cycle tours around the city for €28, all tours are in English and the price includes the bicycle hire. They also offer ‘Day Trips’ to Monet’s Garden, €65 and to Versailles Palace, €80, price includes bicycle hire, train tickets and entrance fees. While those on tour are given preference for bicycle hire, you can hire a bike for €4 an hour, €25 for a day, and €100 for a week.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 2

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images