Many of Europe’s big cities are
coming up with green solutions that facilitate seeing
the sights while not leaving behind the world’s
largest carbon footprint when you do. Paris is leading
the way with the new Velib system of city-provided bicycles.
Available 24 hours a day, there is a fleet of several
thousand bicycles with automatic safety features (like
fore and aft lights that come on as soon as you begin
pedaling, and non-slip auto gear changers). A one-day,
seven-day, or annual access card is swiped at one of
750 self-serve kiosks attached to bike racks throughout
the City of Lights, and you pedal away. The best innovation
is that the bike can be returned at any kiosk citywide,
so you needn’t return to the point of pickup. www.en.velib.paris.fr
On
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