Re: Paris readies for Velib frenzy



?

_

Guest
On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 20:51:32 +0000, Garrison Hilliard wrote:

>
> The bikes do not come with cycling helmets but Mathieu Fierling insists safety
> is a priority for the Paris authorities.
>
> "The city council has launched a big campaign on bike safety. Every subscriber
> to the Velib scheme will receive a leaflet with safety advice.


Would anyone who has one of these leaflets be so kind as to detail the
helmet advice (if any) given therein?
 
On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 21:31:42 GMT, _ wrote:


Just realised that perhaps I was a little zealous in my snippage; the
original post was about a free (but not totally) cycle scheme in Paris
called "Velib"

> On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 20:51:32 +0000, Garrison Hilliard wrote:
>
>>
>> The bikes do not come with cycling helmets but Mathieu Fierling insists safety
>> is a priority for the Paris authorities.
>>
>> "The city council has launched a big campaign on bike safety. Every subscriber
>> to the Velib scheme will receive a leaflet with safety advice.

>
> Would anyone who has one of these leaflets be so kind as to detail the
> helmet advice (if any) given therein?
 
On Jul 15, 4:31 pm, _ <[email protected]>
wrote:
> On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 20:51:32 +0000, Garrison Hilliard wrote:
>
> > The bikes do not come with cycling helmets but Mathieu Fierling insists safety
> > is a priority for the Paris authorities.

>
> > "The city council has launched a big campaign on bike safety. Every subscriber
> > to the Velib scheme will receive a leaflet with safety advice.

>
> Would anyone who has one of these leaflets be so kind as to detail the
> helmet advice (if any) given therein?


Why should they detail helmet advice? They're safety pamphlets, not
hat catalogs.
 
landotter wrote:
>
> Why should they detail helmet advice? They're safety pamphlets, not
> hat catalogs.
>


Its probably the familiar BBC helmet fixation again since that is their
report that raises the question and refers to the safety pamphlets.
OTOH the report on BBC TV showed them all being ridden without helmets.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6899082.stm

Tony
 
On 15 juil, 23:31, _ <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Would anyone who has one of these leaflets be so kind as to detail the
> helmet advice (if any) given therein?


The leaflet is available online at
http://www.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche/securite

All it says about helmets, in the second to last line, is that wearing
one is recommended.

As of yesterday the operation was looking like a huge success, and a
political triumph for the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe (who is
currently angling for the leadership of the Socialist Party after the
fallout from the electoral defeat of Segolene and her ghastly man,
François Hollande). There was glorious weather, too, for the launch.
Everyone is happy and smiling, but bikes have that effect, as we all
know.

EFR
Ile de France
 
"Artemisia" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> As of yesterday the operation was looking like a huge success


[snip]

> There was glorious weather, too, for the launch.


Riding back from a friend's housewarming in the rue du Faubourg St Honoré in
the not-so-early hours of Saturday morning, the bikes were already available
to borrow in the 8e, and by the time I made it out of bed on Saturday, the
thirty-space rack *en bas de chez moi* had been filled.

I spent part of Sunday afternoon at a terrasse de café in the 17e, and
groups of happy vélib' users were passing every few minutes. There was a
queue of about a dozen people waiting to borrow bikes at rue des
Batignolles, while the rack at rue Caulaincourt behind the butte de
Montmartre was full.

I haven't yet had either a very close look or a test ride, but a noteworthy
feature is that the hub-dynamo powered lights (LED front and rear to judge
by the colour) seem to be permanently switched on.

James Thomson
 
SACRE BLUE house warming!!

engarde, legion de pedaluers dicoveree!! zeeee breezzeee!
 
On Jul 16, 8:11 am, "James Thomson" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "datakoll" <[email protected]> a écrit:
>
> > SACRE BLUE house warming!!

>
> Ok, *pendaison de crémaillère* si tu préfères.
>
> James Thomson


if you prefur? why is it given a typewriter or microphone, otherwise
intelligent folk talk like Nigel Cedric?
for example "OOOOOOOOH NIGEL CEDRIC SLIDES OFF INTO THE RAVINE TO HIS
DEATH THANK YOU.
thank you what?
 
> landotter wrote:
>> Why should they detail helmet advice? They're safety pamphlets, not
>> hat catalogs.


Tony Raven wrote:
> Its probably the familiar BBC helmet fixation again since that is their
> report that raises the question and refers to the safety pamphlets. OTOH
> the report on BBC TV showed them all being ridden without helmets.
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6899082.stm


With only 160,000 bikes in a city of 2 million maybe there aren't enough
kamikaze cyclists (running stoplights, zooming off sidewalks into
traffic) in Paris to warrant crash gear?
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
 
On Jul 16, 2:07 am, Tony Raven <[email protected]> wrote:
> landotter wrote:
>
> > Why should they detail helmet advice? They're safety pamphlets, not
> > hat catalogs.

>
> Its probably the familiar BBC helmet fixation again since that is their
> report that raises the question and refers to the safety pamphlets.
> OTOH the report on BBC TV showed them all being ridden without helmets.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6899082.stm
>


Thank goodness. A little buttah here, some wine, a dashing cycling cap
or hair in the wind. Good stuff. Very French. I bet they even come
with ashtrays.

Stylish bikes, especially the rear end. What's up with the handlebars,
though?? Why all the excessive plastic? I'm also surprised that they
went for chain drive, at least that's what it looks like. I wonder
what sort of maintenance these things will get. A simple drivetrain
like that could use a splort of motor oil every six months and
probably be fine. I've seen utility bikes in Sweden that ran just
fine, though the individual links of the chain had become invisible.
Still, I was expecting to see belt drive.
 
On Jul 16, 11:27 am, A Muzi <[email protected]> wrote:
> > landotter wrote:
> >> Why should they detail helmet advice? They're safety pamphlets, not
> >> hat catalogs.

> Tony Raven wrote:
> > Its probably the familiar BBC helmet fixation again since that is their
> > report that raises the question and refers to the safety pamphlets. OTOH
> > the report on BBC TV showed them all being ridden without helmets.
> >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6899082.stm

>
> With only 160,000 bikes in a city of 2 million maybe there aren't enough
> kamikaze cyclists (running stoplights, zooming off sidewalks into
> traffic) in Paris to warrant crash gear?


What I wonder is what the average 'tude is of a utility cyclist in
Paris. I'm thinking that, despite not being popular in the city for
some time, there still exists a vestigial European node in the brain
that allows them to resume riding responsibly after a hiatus. If only
more Americans had such an organ that could be reawakened. ;-)

The design of the bikes seems to insist on a more leisurely riding
style. 50# bikes with dynohubs and swoopy fenders don't exactly make
you want to do a radical downhill run.
 
On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:57:42 -0700, landotter wrote:

>
> Thank goodness. A little buttah here, some wine, a dashing cycling cap
> or hair in the wind. Good stuff. Very French. I bet they even come
> with ashtrays.


You're behind he times again. Starting February, there has been a ban on
smoking in "public places"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6032125.stm

Although cafes, nightclubs, and restaurants will be given until January
2008.



--
Luigi de Guzman
http://ouij.livejournal.com
 
On Jul 16, 12:41 pm, Luigi de Guzman <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:57:42 -0700, landotter wrote:
>
> > Thank goodness. A little buttah here, some wine, a dashing cycling cap
> > or hair in the wind. Good stuff. Very French. I bet they even come
> > with ashtrays.

>
> You're behind he times again. Starting February, there has been a ban on
> smoking in "public places"
>

According to the law, riding a Velib with a Gauloise dangling from
your lip will be legal, as long as you're not riding in museums,
restaurants, or government offices. Smoking in the street is still OK.

So do they come with ashtrays or what??
 
"datakoll" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> if you prefur? why is it given a typewriter or microphone,
> otherwise intelligent folk talk like Nigel Cedric?


Gene Genie,

Given a typewriter or microphone, I *am* Nigel Cedric, and you may claim
your five pounds.

James "otherwise intelligent" Thomson
 
On Jul 16, 1:47 pm, landotter <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jul 16, 12:41 pm, Luigi de Guzman <[email protected]> wrote:> On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:57:42 -0700, landotter wrote:
>
> > > Thank goodness. A little buttah here, some wine, a dashing cycling cap
> > > or hair in the wind. Good stuff. Very French. I bet they even come
> > > with ashtrays.

>
> > You're behind he times again. Starting February, there has been a ban on
> > smoking in "public places"

>
> According to the law, riding a Velib with a Gauloise dangling from
> your lip will be legal, as long as you're not riding in museums,
> restaurants, or government offices. Smoking in the street is still OK.
>
> So do they come with ashtrays or what??


do they come with a guard on station with an Uzi?

We'll be looking for the bikes to show in Miami.
And the headlines "French cyclists mugged and killed by third world
gang."
 
On Jul 16, 5:11 pm, "James Thomson" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "datakoll" <[email protected]> a écrit:
>
> > if you prefur? why is it given a typewriter or microphone,
> > otherwise intelligent folk talk like Nigel Cedric?

>
> Gene Genie,
>
> Given a typewriter or microphone, I *am* Nigel Cedric, and you may claim
> your five pounds.
>
> James "otherwise intelligent" Thomson


Dear Headless,

who batter to answer the question? You runnin vegtable oil in the
trans, thank you!
My guess is at a moderate intelligence level, a vacuum fills the
writer's block where a stylized hardwired english takes "hold."
The next level up gives out kleeshays, like uh uh uh thank you!

thank you

datakoll

the euro/english broadcast or attempt to broadcast over interminable
self congratulatory ads for the TdF when keeerist we already watching
the TdF is A Gas when followed by Nascar's psuedo hillbillies from
Chicago

thank you!

I say the next time that oaf sez THANK YOU someone dump ice water on
it.

THANKYOU

AS FOR THE DUNCE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTERMINABLE tDf AD

CHINA!

THANK YOU
 
"landotter" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> Stylish bikes, especially the rear end. What's up with the
> handlebars, though?? Why all the excessive plastic?


My impression is that the plastic shell over the front end is supposed to
render the cables tamper-proof.

> I'm also surprised that they went for chain drive, at least that's
> what it looks like.


Right.

> I wonder what sort of maintenance these things will get. A simple
> drivetrain like that could use a splort of motor oil every six months and
> probably be fine.


I don't know what the routine maintenance schedule will be, but there are
teams tasked with redistributing bikes to zones of higher demand and pulling
in bikes in need of repair.

The main complaint on the MDB-IDF mailing list seems to be that the bike
racks at popular destinations fill up fast, meaning that the user has to
circulate looking for a parking spot before the free half-hour runs out:

" Arrivée à gare de lyon avec un vélib.

Sur les 6 stations les plus proches, toutes sont pleines,
4 en maintenance, et celles fonctionnelles incapables de
m'indiquer une station disponible proche.

En dépit, je prends le 1/4h supplémentaire "offert" et me
dirige vers Nation en espérant avoir moins de problème.
Mais là aussi, les 3 stations les plus proches sont pleines
et c'est enfin à la quatrième que j'arrive à rendre mon vélo! "

James Thomson
 
YOU KNOW,

could be during the interminable self congratulatory TdF ads, the
broadcast company charges Al Queda to pass messages to Gert Frobe.

but we digress. the Paris cycle experiment should be interesting
following its descent into hell.

Is it that the Thank you is a homosexual anti semtic abberation?

thank you.
 

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