Photo: Wikipedia
It’s a sad example of how a social ideal, beneficial both economically and environmentally, can be stifled by the harsh face of reality: Vélib’, a bicycle rental system in France, faces untold woes due to vandalism.
The urban, turned-green, lifestyle has led to the appearance of bicycle-sharing systems in different cities as a way to enjoy healthy, carbon-free transportation, but it comes as no surprise that Paris faces serious vandal issues, with images of burning cars coming to mind. In fact, an attempt to create a certain eco-friendly, community utopia has spawned anarchy, or at the very least, incivility.
Some sociologists say the vandalism is the result of a socially divided Paris, actions carried out in revolt by resentful youths from troubled neighbourhoods. Some of the specialty bicycles (worth $3,500 each) are being found on black markets in Eastern Europe and northern Africa. And a few are victims of the stunts and tricks of adolescent joy-riders.
However the bikes meet their end, or near-end, the fact is they are being vandalized at an alarming rate. With 80 per cent of their initial stock of 20,600 bicycles stolen or broken, it’s a wonder Vélib’ is still in business. JCDecaux, a major financier and organizer of the Vélib’ project, says they did not account for such extensive theft and damage. Although the bicycle-sharing program is popular among city inhabitants and tourists as well, amounting to an average of 50,000 – 150,000 daily trips, depending on the season, at least 1,500 bikes must be repaired per day, and the company runs 10 repair shops as well as a ‘boat-shop’ that goes up and down the Seine, to keep up with the damage.
Despite the fact that various steps have been taken to reinforce the parking docks, strengthen the bicycles, and ensure they are securely fastened, the number of infractions due to vandalism in 2008 rose by 54 per cent. Velib’ has even embarked on a public awareness campaign to discourage offenders, but believes the real solution is “individual respect”, something that, even in the age of ‘green transformation’, may be hard to come by.
