A new bicycle initiative in Paris hopes to persuade commuters to leave their cars at home. Could a scheme like this work in Dublin?
The Vélib scheme is designed to reduce four wheeled traffic on the Paris streets and was successfully launched last month. Under the scheme, 20,000 bicycles have been placed at 800 stations around the French capital supplied by an outdoor advertising company JCDecaux in exchange for 1,500 advertising spaces in the city.
The initiative is being hailed as an environmental breakthrough. Something that was once privately owned is now to be shared with all the citizens of the city.
It's the two-wheeled urban revolution which supporters say could turn the tide against the car's supremacy on city streets.
The question remains that if the initiative comes to Dublin, will people be prepared to use the bikes and leave their cars at home.
Project Director with Vélib Céline Lepault says that the aim of the initiative is to reduce car use in the city.
The message is to leave your car at home or sell it and use Vélib which is very practical for short trips.
JCDecaux is now proposing to provide five hundred bikes in Dublin in exchange for around a hundred advertising spaces. The proposal is still under review.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 August 2007. The reporter is Tony Connolly.
