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Article: Paris free cycle scheme sees rise in road deaths
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- July 8, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Evening Standard - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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A PIONEERING scheme to supply free bicycles to Paris has led to a
rise in cycle deaths and injuries.
The project to put 16,000 bicycles at the disposal of Parisians
has seen cycle traffic jump by 70 per cent. It has delighted
socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe and the Left-wing council, and left
drivers fuming.
The velibs short for velo liberte, or bike freedom are used for
120,000 trips a day, each averaging 22 minutes. The bikes, free for
the first 30 minutes, are available from 1,200 "docking zones". But
three riders have been killed and about 70 injured since January
this year.