When you return it you simply pull into a station and make sure it registers on the screen that the ride has ended. And you'll know it's locked in bc you won't be able to take it back out. Easy-peasy! I think it took us at least 5 takes to get that scene just right of Doug docking the bike at the end. ;P
Bon Jour, thank you for this video. I watched this video and immediately went and rented a bike. The instructions were great and simple. I cycled past the Eiffel Tower and it was great. Thank you for this video. Cheers.
@@fareezkhan7831 yes, exactly! Bienvenue a Paris! Good luck! Let us know how it goes, and be careful - I forget if we mentioned it in the video, but the birds had done a number on the bikes when we were there. ;P
For the 5 euro deal, are you allowed to go biking for a whole day, 30min per bike or do you have 30min in total for the day? also do I need to pay extra for the extra bikes? or are their price comprised in the 5 euro purchase (meaning that it costs the same if theres 1 person or 5 people riding at the same time)?
Great questions! For the €5 deal, you can add up to 5 bikes on the one code, but it is €5 per bike, and for a manual bike, the first 0-30 min is free then it's 1 € per each 30min. For the electric it's an additional €2 for the first 0-45 min and then 2€ for each 30min after. Makes sense? Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video! Going to Paris this December and i'm thinking of using this bikes to move around in Pairs instead of Metro! Hope this will remind me of Amsterdam, loved to bike there. Really hope to save some money using this and to see Paris in a diferent way, plus will do some cardio. Just a question. When you pause the bike does the time keep counting?
what a great video! you must have taken the time to think about how you structure it so all questions are being answered. Now I feel ready for the adventure. Thanks a lot. Paris, nous arrivons !
Thank you very much for the kind compliment! We certainly did think about it in advance. That's what happens when two Type A's work on something like this. ;) We hope you enjoy your Paris adventure ...and the bikes!
Excellent detailed tutorial about how to use the velo in Paris - the Paris city bike network - which now covers the whole city. Love the presentation too, full of flavor and color 😃. _Subscribed_
Skipped over the payment screen which was my problem. Even when you select English the card receiver displays French. Go with your translator app handy
Nicely done, thank you. Especially since right now one cannot confirm payment information when signing up on line since Smovingo cannot process American credit cards (really?). So, an American can only do it at the station. Also, make sure to lock it into the station well; it's loose, someone can just continue your session.
Thank you! Yes, the credit cards, especially online don't always play nice here. Our bank card here has so many layers of security though that I think that's why it often doesn't work the same for our U.S. cards unfortunately. Also, your tip to make sure it's locked in at the end of your ride is a great one! Thank you for that suggestion!
I was able to use my US card (a Chase Visa card, one which accepts foreign transactions) when I signed up via the app. Maybe it depends on the card, or maybe they fixed it!
It's just like when you go to a hotel and they put a hold for possible room charges, which gets applied back to your card when you return the bike. Make sense?
That seat backwards trick is honor code-based. Using it to "reserve" your bike spoils the code for all. If you want to keep you bike, don't dock it and use the provided lock.
That is a great question...and to be honest, I'm not sure there is. My husband and I rented bikes in Annecy recently from a store (and their local shared bikes as well) and both options there also had a hold on a deposit until we returned them. :(
This is the best guide really. I'm probably getting the basic pass on my Navigo but the guide of choosing, checking, and riding was excellent and valuable.
Good question but in 8 years we’ve never experience one. The tires are quite robust. That being said I imagine you would lock the bike where you are and submit a ticket via the app.
You are very welcome! We recently traveled with my husband's bike, so I understand those logistics can be complicated, but the velibs are a great way to get around. And if you want something nicer, there's plenty of bike shops around that will rent bikes too.
Hi there! Our website is www.lamourdeparis.com and if you check out our videos here we do have one that’s a nice bike tour from the Eiffel Tower. Thanks for watching!
Bonjour, thank you for the video. Question if I still have time left, can I park the bike go in a cafe for lunch then come back to the bicycle without the clock running? Does that make sense? Merci, Tracie
Bonjour! You're very welcome! When you pause the bike, the time does keep running, but you can see how much time has expired in the main window, so that can help you gauge whether you want to return it for awhile or hold onto it. When we have a bike that works really well, we often prefer to hold onto it. :)
Unfortunately they do not take cash at the kiosk. Only debit/credit cards and cards with contactless payment ability. Great question and thanks for watching!
@@gameofmasks2992 Try Paris Bike Company, Holland Bikes Tours & Rentals, or Allo Velo -- beyond that, there are more, but those are most familiar to us.
When you pause your ride, as you did toward the end of the video, does the clock stop as well? Or does it keep running, and thus you get charged extra if you go over the 30 minute mark? Wait, never mind, I see that you essentially answered this question below on the thread with Tracie Trotter. The answer is that the clock keeps running... Fabulous video, by the way!!!
Hi there! The 7 day rental gives you access to the bike system for 7 days, but you don't actually keep the bike for all 7 days. Once your 7 days expires, assuming you've returned the last bike you used :) then yes your deposit is returned to your card. Hope this helps!
Hi Jk, they do reimburse the €300. It's just a security deposit like when you check into a hotel and they ask for a CC for incidentals, etc. Hope this helps!
That is correct! But it does add to your time of rental and your hourly charge so sometimes it best to park at a station if you’re taking a long dining or shopping break.
hi! is there a way for me to rent a cargo bike or something like that to carry an adult? my mom and I are visiting Paris soon and due to her health she can't walk for too long
Hi Cristina! That's a wonderful idea. This may be possible. I would check with some of the main companies that show up for bike rentals. I knew there are a couple tours that offer kids seats on the bikes, so this would seem feasible that a bike rental company may offer this option. I hope it works out! It is fun to see Paris by bike.
you can keep it as long as your pass is valid, but you will pay an hourly rate after the first 30 minutes or hour. So it's better to return it when not needed and then check out another.
It's just like when you go to a hotel and they put a hold for possible room charges, which gets applied back to your card when you return the bike. Make sense?
Hi! Yes, I think you can, but be prepared for the deposit it holds. We think it returns to your account quickly upon return of the bike, but you dont' want your funds being held up too long on a debit card I'm sure. And every now and then, US cards don't play nice in general in France, so it's always good if you have more than one option on hand.
I have two questions, the first one is that v-sejour is not listed on neither the web nor the app, so i assume its a plan that you can only pay on the machine or that it was removed, which one is it? The second questions is that if the plan includes up to 5 bikes that means i can take more than one for the same price, or if i select that i will take 3 bikes the price will be the triple?
Hi Fenix, thanks for the great questions! It appears that the Velib system has changed some of their offerings. Here's a link to the new options: www.velib-metropole.fr/fr/offers Here is how I understand the answer to your 2nd question..... the price will be triple if you take 3 bikes, but you will be able to check out 3 bikes using the one code that you received when you make the purchase. So rather than having to make 3 separate purchases for you and your friends/family, you can make the one purchase, receive one code, and all of you can use that code. You will be billed according to the number of bikes you check out with that code. If you choose the new plan called the Classic/Classique, it says up to 5 bikes for 24 hours for €5. So if you check out 3 bikes at once, it will be €15. Hopefully this answers your questions!
It's usually nice summer weather at that point. The days are super long - it doesn't get fully dark until 11pm-ish! End of July/August are when the heatwaves often pass through, and those aren't too fun bc of course not everywhere has a/c here.
Whats wrong with the french bureaucrats? Did they take a cue from america ? The country that can’t? I mean how hard is it to keep up with the maintenance with these stupid bikes? Thanks for the bike info.
Yeah i understand the frustration. Unfortunately I think it's only going to get worse after Sept. 1 when all the e-scooters are no longer allowed so the bikes will get even more use. We shall see how they handle that! Thanks for watching!
Excellent Video, appreciate you! We are coming in May 2023., whoohoo can't wait! I've been waiting my entire life and finally able to do it! Has anything changed with Velib for 2023? Do they still take American Visa cards? We are in our 60's and own and ride e-bikes here in the US. Hoping to get around in Paris the same way and see much more than by walking. Some people are finding that each time they renew their pass they are getting hit with another $300 deposit on their CC. This can add up even if you use the 3 day pass more than once. Would be great if you could do an update for 2023! I'm sure you'll get lots of views.
Hi Gerd, thanks for much for watching and your comment! I would be surprised if they aren't taking US Visa cards. I understand what you mean about the $300 deposit, but unfortunately I'm guessing they need to cover their equipment as you see velib bikes in terrible shape just left on the street, etc. And I think an update on the Velib system for 2023 is a great idea!
And what about kids? We are a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids, 8 and 12 years old. The 12 years old is big enough for a big bike, but not the youngest.
Hmmm...that's a good question. You could check with some of the bike rental shops if y'all would feel comfortable on a tandem, but admittedly I haven't seen too many around. You could book a side by side motorbike tour with @retro_tour_paris on instagram. I'm sure the kids would LOVE that! I just got to do one in Morocco and it was really neat!
oh no! I'm so sorry! Hopefully you get to come back, save this for next time! Was there anything else that was difficult to figure out while you were here? We love to help, so maybe there's a video we haven't made yet. (I know there are many, but it's always good to know where people need help the most.)
