Utilizing the Vélib Bike Service in Paris ⋆ Secrets and techniques of Paris

Now that the climate is (largely) conducive to getting round Paris by bicycle, I assumed it might be a great time to replace the details about utilizing the Metropolis of Paris’s municipal bike-share system often known as Vélib. It’s had a rocky few years after switching service suppliers, and whereas there are nonetheless a couple of bugs to work out, I’ve discovered them to be fairly dependable for the informal bicycle owner. Whether or not you’ve used them earlier than or are a first-timer, listed below are a couple of helpful recommendations on the bikes, easy methods to arrange an account, and easy methods to use them.

Most Essential Takeaways

• Vélib has common bikes (inexperienced) and electric-assisted bikes (blue)
• In case you have a cell phone with a French quantity, you’ll be able to join passes (together with 24-hour or 3-day passes) on-line; nevertheless in case you have no method of receiving a textual content message on a French cellphone to substantiate your cost, then you definitely’ll want to enroll immediately on the bike station terminals (make sure to take a photograph or rapidly write down the passcode on the display screen; there have been points with folks not receiving the printout receipt with the passcode to have the ability to take a look at the bikes).
• There’s a FREE go for residents that solely fees you should you truly use a motorbike (this “pay as you go” choice is barely dearer, however nice for the occasional consumer who needs the choice to seize a motorbike at any second with out fuss).

In regards to the Vélib Bikes

There are two sorts of Vélib:

1. common bikes (inexperienced)
2. electric-assisted bikes (blue). These nonetheless have to be pedaled to work, however they offer you a little bit push, particularly going uphill, and might attain 25kph.

Each have baskets, mud guards, headlights, and locks for when it’s essential to pop into a store rapidly. In contrast to the “dockless” bikes that you simply would possibly see round Paris, the Vélibs are all docked bikes, with a number of hundred “stations” located all through Paris and the instant.

Subscription Choices and Passes (Up to date January 2024)

There are 2 “one-off” passes that anybody with a bank card can use, and three “subscription” choices which can be for residents or long-term guests.

1. The one-off passes for informal customers are the €3 Ticket-V (a single-use rental for as much as 45 minutes, both traditional or electrical, plus €1 for every extra half-hour on traditional bikes or €2 for eBikes), the €5 Cross 24-hour “Classique”, the €10 Cross 24-hour “Electrique” and the €20 “Cross 3 Jours“. All however the Ticket-V permit you to take as much as 5 bikes at a time with one account, so it’s good for small teams or a household who need to pay with one bank card. There are two charges to bear in mind, the mounted “Cross” price simply to enroll (charged immediately whether or not you ever use the bikes or not) and the precise rental price for the time you employ the bikes.  You get an account quantity and a PIN it’s essential to hold during your go to have the ability to take a motorbike.  The rental price for the precise time used is identical for each passes: 
   • For the Cross 24-hour “Classique”, inexperienced bikes are free for as much as half-hour. For those who don’t return your bike to a station after half-hour, your bank card will likely be charged €1 for every extra half hour. You should use the bike as many instances as you need with out paying greater than the go price so long as you turn bikes each half-hour. If you wish to use a blue electrical bike with this go, it can price €2 for every half-hour.
   • For the Cross 24-hour “Electrique” and Cross 3 Jours, blue electrical bikes are free for as much as 45 minutes for the primary 6 journeys (then €1 /journey after that) and €1 for every 30-minutes you go over. If you wish to use the inexperienced bikes with this go it’s free for as much as 60 minutes per journey then €1 per half-hour (this would possibly come in useful since there are far fewer electrical bikes out there, they’re tougher to seek out, and typically those you discover aren’t completed recharging).     
     
     IMPORTANT NOTE: Individuals visiting Paris (and anybody with a non-EU bank card) can have a €300 deposit was deducted out of your bank card every time you subscribe for a go, and solely reimbursed a day or two after it expired; so if you’re staying per week or extra and wish a number of passes to make use of for the entire time, chances are you’ll want a card with room for having a number of deposits taken directly earlier than getting the cash returned.
2. There are three totally different subscriptions which can be for individuals who dwell in Paris, tailored to the frequency of use. All three work with a bodily card that will likely be despatched to you (or added to your Navigo card):
   • “V-Libre” is a pay-as-you-go account for infrequent customers. It prices nothing to subscribe, however fees you €1 per half-hour for the inexperienced bikes and €3 per 45 minutes for the blue bikes. For those who by no means use the bikes, you aren’t charged something in any respect. I like to recommend everybody to get this even when they assume they’ll by no means use the bikes, as a result of in a pinch you’ve obtained the cardboard to seize one and go.
   • “V-Plus” is a month-to-month (€3.10) or annual (€37.20) subscription for individuals who use the bikes greater than 4 instances monthly. With this subscription you get half-hour without spending a dime on the inexperienced bikes, then €1 per extra 30-minute rental, and €2 for the blue bike leases plus €2 for every extra 30-minute rental.
   • “V-Max” is a hard and fast month-to-month (€9.30) or annual (€111.60) account for normal customers that features 60-minute rides on inexperienced bikes and a couple of free 45-minute rides on the blue bikes (then €1 per journey). After that, the extra instances is €1 per half-hour for both bike. That is an superior deal if you wish to use the electrical bikes on daily basis of the yr for brief journeys (lower than 45 minutes every journey).      

Getting Began

Earlier than you begin, you’ll have to get an account (even for a Day Cross) and – particularly should you’re planning on utilizing it greater than as soon as – the smartphone app. For each (out there in English), go to: https://www.velib-metropole.fr/

For those who’re from exterior France, you’ll have to register proper on the display screen present in every station (see photograph under).

After you have registered on-line or on the bike station terminal pictured under for the go you might have chosen, you’ll instantly obtain an eight-digit subscription ID# and a PIN (the PIN is chosen by you). WRITE THESE DOWN (or retailer in your cellphone), as you’ll want them to take a look at a motorbike (for the month-to-month or annual go holders, you’ll want these till your card arrives within the mail).

Examine Out a Bike

After you have your ID# and PIN, you’ll be able to take a look at a motorbike(s). You’ll find out there bikes utilizing the web site or the smartphone (up to date in real-time), though they’re fairly straightforward to identify round Paris (TIP: the bus shelter maps present the closest Vélib stations).

Do a fast test to verify the bike you need isn’t damaged:

• Each wheels have air
• All components together with pedals, seat, and handlebars are intact
• Spin the pedals backwards to verify chain isn’t blocked
• Ensure that the seat might be adjusted if wanted
• If the seat is going through backwards, it normally means the final one that used it discovered a difficulty (so don’t test this bike out!)
• Ensure that it’s totally charged if it’s an electrical bike (push any button on the bike’s display screen and it’ll present the battery stage)

As soon as all seems good, you’ll be able to checkout the bike immediately on the bike’s electrical show unit often known as the “V-box” (DO NOT attempt to use the “borne” terminal to take a look at a motorbike!). It is going to then ask on your eight-digit ID#, after which the four-digit PIN (push the inexperienced test button after coming into the numbers). For many who have a bodily card, you simply wave this in entrance of the V-Field and it reads the information routinely, so that you don’t have to enter any numbers. If all is sweet, it can show “Go!” and you may take away your bike from the docking station and begin driving.

Modify the seat and ensure the brakes work earlier than you go flying down a hill into visitors. In case you have an electrical bike, press buttons 1, 2 or 3 on the V-Field to regulate the assisited “velocity”. Et voila!

Be aware: If there is a matter with the bike (ie an electrical bike not charged fully, or an everyday bike that hasn’t been returned accurately) it gained’t permit you to test it out, simply attempt one other bike. Typically entire stations are blocked (for instance, if it’s on a parade or protest march route that day).  

Locking the Bike for a Short-term Pause

If you wish to pop into the bakery or in any other case go away your bike momentarily with out returning it to a station, you’ll be able to lock your Vélib in two methods (see this video to get a greater visible: https://youtu.be/gLBd4Pe9-RY):

• As soon as stopped, put down the kickstand and push the tip of the left handlebar to eject the cable lock cleverly hidden within the tip of the suitable handlebar. You lock this into the little slot on the “neck” of the bike the place the handlebars meet the body. Then push the inexperienced checkmark and also you’ll see “Pause” displayed; you will have to substantiate this along with your card or enter your PIN. You’ll then see a padlock image to substantiate.
• You may merely block the handlebars from shifting (a bit like once you lock your automobile’s steering wheel) with out utilizing the cable lock. Simply press the inexperienced checkmark and also you’ll see “Pause” displayed; you will have to substantiate this along with your card or enter your PIN. Flip the handlebars till you are feeling it block into locked place. You’ll then see a padlock image to substantiate.

To launch your bike once more, push the inexperienced test button and use your card or enter your PIN once more to substantiate, and it’ll launch the cable and the locked steering, so that you’re able to proceed rolling.

Returning the Bike

Whenever you’re able to return your bike, simply discover the closest station (you will discover stations with open areas listed on the app and web site) and slide the entrance wheel again into the docking station slot. Hold your eye on the V-Field show: it can present the time you used the bike then a “Cease” signal, after which the show will flip off. Give the bike a little bit tug to substantiate it’s locked in there, then you definitely’re good! You’ll obtain a affirmation e-mail every time you come back your bike.

If you wish to use it longer than the free time you might have in your go (normally half-hour) with out paying, merely cease at a station and plug it again in, verify it says “Cease” on the display screen, after which simply test it out once more (except the bike sucks, wherein case you’ll need to seize a unique bike).

Be aware: Don’t neglect to show the seat round in case your bike isn’t working correctly to sign to different riders and the Vélib employees that it’s damaged.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES: name customer support (open 8am-10pm on weekdays, 9am-10pm Saturdays, and 9am-7pm Sundays and holidays): 01 76 49 12 34. They normally have an English-speaking operator.

Experience safely!

I do know none of you’re carrying helmets or yellow security vests, however not less than don’t neglect one rule: by no means journey between a big automobile (like a truck or bus) and the sidewalk simply earlier than an intersection, as a result of they could not see you when turning proper and also you’ll get squashed. Keep behind or go on the left so the drivers can see you. I do know it’s no enjoyable sucking on exhaust fumes, however you’ll must bear it till you may get to a much less congested space to journey or persist with the separated bike paths throughout Paris.

* Be taught all about biking in Paris on this detailed article: Paris by Bike

Even in case you have precedence, make sure to look out for pedestrians (use that bell!) and electrical “trottinettes” (we name them scooters in English, however they aren’t the identical as motor scooters), that are all over the place in Paris now and sometimes pushed by individuals who don’t know what they’re doing (or the foundations of the highway).

PS: The terminals, or “bornes” at every docking station have one other nice goal: charging your USB gadgets!