An electrically assisted Vélib 'in Paris -

Louise MERESSE / SIPA

In a bad financial situation, Smovengo, the operator of Vélib ', will obtain an extension estimated at 4 million euros per year until 2024. The town hall of Paris will put its hand in its pocket, like all the municipalities of the Ile-de-France region to help Vélib 'run smoothly.

But users will also be solicited.

This extension will indeed be financed mainly by the increase in prices on electric bikes, according to the president of the mixed union (SAVM) confirming information from the Parisian. 

Price increase

An amendment to the current contract until 2032 must be submitted to the 57 member municipalities of the Syndicat Autolib 'Vélib' Métropole (SAVM) on Thursday, confirmed its president Sylvain Raifaud.

According to this amendment, Smovengo will receive up to 6 million additional euros per year - the projection is 4 million - until 2024 to "ensure that the service continues", explains Sylvain Raifaud, in a context of " marked improvement in operating and management conditions ”.

But also the overuse of electric bikes, which represent 35% of the fleet for 60% of trips, and generate a high maintenance cost.

Communities, which finance a basic contract of 40 million per year, should pay only 2.5 million more in all, the majority of the extension being provided by the increase in prices on electric bicycles.

For the moment, no figure has been put forward.

The new rates could be known in the coming days.

Make sure they "stay affordable"

"We will involve the user of electric bikes by ensuring that they remain affordable where they are most useful, that is to say for long distance journeys: we have an expanding network now over 400 km2 ", underlines Sylvain Raifaud, who also wants to limit the increase for" people who have difficulty in making physical efforts "and is considering another adaptation for users of" high stations ".

"For this improvement to continue, we need a little resources", summarizes Sylvain Raifaud who demands in exchange for the extension a better quality of service, which will be judged by a users' committee.

The extension must also be used to continue the expansion of the service to the small crown.

"There are already 400 stations in the suburbs, we will increase to 500 in the year", predicts the elected ecologist.

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  • Paris city hall

  • Mobility

  • Vélib

  • Bike

  • Paris