[sustran] Re: [World Streets] Honk! Battered Bicycles in Paris

[Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory]

Hi,

I would like to ask:

* Does in fact the Municipality of Paris own the system ("...Velib is 
yours...")?
* Who do people think really owns it? Paris? JCDecaux? "The people"?
* How is destruction of the bikes tied in with attitudes about 
advertising in general, and JCDecaux in particular?
* Is there any data on what people who damage bikes etc. think? Their 
demographic profile? Their reasons or lack thereof? Is it basically the 
same thing as destruction of collective public transport vehicles 
(non-functional damage such as tags on windows)? Does anyone suspect 
that the taxi or private car lobbies are behind it?
* What other "steps" are being taken?

Thanks,
T



The Editor wrote:
> [http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2009/02/reports-of-velibs-demise-greatly.html] 
>
>
>
> Vélib, Paris's pioneering, city-transforming public bike project has 
> had its fair share (actually unfair share I would say) of vandalism 
> and theft, and while it does not threaten the integrity and viability 
> of the service, it is part of the landscape of public bikes and needs 
> to be understood and taken into account. There is, in fact, a great 
> deal that can be done to reduce the magnitude of these challenges , 
> and indeed steps are being taken here. That said, let's have a look at 
> some of the examples of damage, which have been collected for us by 
> vigilant Eyes on the Street Sentinel in Paris, Larry Langner.
>
>
> And here you have a poster placed on one of the JCDecaux street signs 
> in Paris, warning that: "Breaking a bike is easy. It can't defend 
> itself".
>
> And then: "16,000 bikes vandalised, 8000 disappeared. Velib is yours. 
> Protect it.
>
> For more examples, click to http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-264472
>
> * Editor's note: Click here 
> <http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2009/02/reports-of-velibs-demise-greatly.html>to 
> read report on "Reports of Vélib’s Demise Greatly Exaggerated 
> <http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2009/02/reports-of-velibs-demise-greatly.html>"
>
>
>
> --
> Posted By The Editor to World Streets 
> <http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2009/06/honk-battered-bicycles-in-paris.html> 
> at 6/01/2009 06:51:00 AM
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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-- 
--------------------------------------------

Todd Edelman
Green Idea Factory

Urbanstr. 45
D-10967 Berlin
Germany

Skype: toddedelman
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edelman at greenidea.eu
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CAR is over. If you want it.

"Fort mit der Autostadt und was Neues hingebaut!" 
- B. Brecht (with slight modification)

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