European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 12, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                July 8 Tad s and stripes Page 25 Paris spin City French capital launches eco Friendly Bike rental program by Angela Doland the associated press it was a perfect Paris moment the rain the sky filled with and i was flying across town on a past the along the through a Public Gar Den and up a Cobblestone Market As a tourist in its easy to spend at least an hour every Day in the but sometimes you need to come up for after taking a test run of Paris City Halls easy to use new Bike i pledged to spend less time this summer in Paris underworld and More time out starting this More than bikes will be posted All Over town at 750 and the numbers of both will nearly double by the years the great news for tourists is that City Hall has made sure the service is convenient for not just by offering Short term passes and Access in eight As the service is is a word made up by blending together Velo Bike and liberte the idea is flexibility you grab a Bike from any station around pop up every 330 Yards or so and Park it at any other that Means you dont have to haul the Bike Back to your hotel if your feet Hurt or it starts rain Selib is socialist mayor Ber Trand Delanoe latest Effort to make Paris More Green and after ripping up car lanes to install Bike paths much to the angst of some drive who complain there Are More bottlenecks there Are 230 Miles of Bike lanes in and Paris City Hall says the amount of Bike traffic has increased nearly 50 percent since Paris int a Paradise for bikers yet theres still a lot of car traffic and confusing one Way streets but a ride is no longer the obstacle course it once by launching the Bike pro Paris is following in the footsteps of european cities including Brussels and Copen the German railway system has a bicycle rental pro where you unlock rental bikes at rail stations using your cell a service in has also been a inspiring Paris to try in every Bike is used seven to 15 times a and the average number of rides a Day is upward of the Paris plan already has More than yearly subscribe though it Hast started a yearlong pass is a on Day pass costs a euro about and a seven Day ticket a starting this More than bikes will be posted at 750 Selib stations throughout the number of bikes and stations will nearly double by years according to a City goes for five euros about youll wind up paying slightly More than if you Ever keep the Bike for More than a half an hour at a the first half hour after you pick up a Bike is always with an extra euro tacked on for the first additional two euros for the second and four euros for every extra half hour from then the sliding Price conceived to keep the bikes in Rota Means that if you want to spend a leisurely Day Riding through the gardens of the Bois de it would be cheaper to rent a Bike from a but if you want to Stop at the then head to the boutiques of the Saint Germain neighbourhood for some then crash at your hotel in East Ern the flexibility to take a bus or the metro instead if youre Selib is your Best the Howe Are rather utilitarian three Speed touring weighing nearly 50 pounds heres How the program works Stop in at any station in town with your credit they accept american visa and among each station comes with an electronic vending machine with instructions in eight select and the machine will walk you through the along the you must authorize Selib to deduct from your card if the Bike is not returned within 24 for a oneyear you have to sign up online or by mail to use the but for a one or seven Day you can do it once youve picked a you have 60 seconds to push a Button on the stand and pull the Bike adjust the and youre ready to the Bike has a Bas Ket and a Builtin so you can secure it if you need to run into a shop or make a Quick for longer youll save Money if you return the Bike to a to put the Bike you slide it into the and youll hear a beep and see a blinking Light if its attached be sure to push it in one drawback for the tourist since the stations Are not theres no one to ask for help with so bring a map and be prepared to Stop a passerby if you get lost on my test i did a recon Naissance Mission for what i would consider the perfect sum Mer when the Sun stays out until after know go Good things to know about the bicycle rental program who can ride riders need to be at least age 14 and at least 5 feet for there Are no baby seats helmets the program Doest offer bring one from or pick one up at a Bike try sporting shop 17 Boulevard de la 0 or Les Velos and 5 Rue de 1abbe 0 safety one confusing aspect of Riding or driving in France is who gets priority at intersect if youre cruising along a Street and theres no indication to the you have to yield to Drivers who Are com ing from streets on your right be sure to keep an Eye out cars to leap out of no on Many big bikes Are authorized to ride in the bus but buses tend to Whiz by just inches away from if you try be very Good routes every sunday the quays of the Seine from the Bastille to the Eiffel Tower Are open to skaters and bikers and closed to on Friday nights at 10 a Parade of bikes departs from Avenue Victoria for a ride around the for information in French on that go to information Check to see a list of Bike the web site is expected to offer English translations by other Bike rentals if youre planning a Long Selib will be try Paris Veloren a at 2 Rue do Fer a 0 the associated press the itinerary pick up a Bike near your hotel and head to the palais Royal a quiet Rose filled Square in the Middle of for a Coffee or a from head by foot to near by Rue a Market Street where you can buy baguettes and a bottle of grab a Bike at the Rue Des Petite Carreaux station and Park it at the Pont Saint Louis station near the and look for a spot on the quays for your picnic Blan West Magn Fique