Eyecatchers-36 : The Latest French Revolution by Manisha Gutman

After creating the world's fastest mode of transport, the TGV, the French are now returning to something much more simple - the bicycle (velo in French). Only July 15, 2007, ten thousand public bicycles were made available to the residents of Paris, in a new experiment on urban transport.

The basic principle is nobody owns the Velib, but everybody can borrow one. For €29 and a deposit of €150, one can subscribe to a year’s access to the cycles. Velib points have been created outside every metro station in the city. With a magnetic card in hand, one can simply help oneself to a cycle, use it to ride up to one’s destination and park it at the nearest Velib point.

It took three years of negotiations before the experiment was put into place but one week before the launch, nearly 8000 Parisians had signed up for a subscription. The city expects to have nearly 2,00,000 by the end of the year. In the last seven years, Paris has doubled its cycle tracks to 371 km at present.

The emerging new trend has quite a serious impact on urban planning, as rules are changed to suit a growing population of cyclists. Instead of the motorcar, in some places the cyclists have priority, allowing them to use one-way streets and even ignore traffic lights.

Finally, it comes down to a personal choice that the French are making. Cycling is good for one’s health; according to some studies half an hour of cycling per day can significantly elongate one’s lifespan, reducing stress and hypertension. It is also an efficient tool of weight control. On the other hand, a cycle is a non-polluting form of transport, using no fuel and creating no emissions. Until a few years ago, only 1.5 per cent of Parisians used cycles on a regular basis. Now more of urban French population is turning to a mode of transport very common in rural France.

The region of Arcachon, on the southwest coast of France offers several landmarks for tourists but, most of all, it offers an excellent network of cycle routes. These routes, which run along the sea for almost the entire circumference of the basin, originally formed a raid road track used by Germans during World War to transport soldiers and men. However, after the war, the railroad served little purpose and the path was converted into cycle tracks.

The cycle track that circles the basin is inaccessible to any motor vehicle, however small it may be. It covers a length of nearly 75 to 80 km, on a sunny day, one can see people of all ages cycling.

Cycles are available in most towns on rent for as little as €2 an hour. A variety of cycles, tandem bicycles, three-wheelers and cycles with baby carriages, makes it possible for older citizens, mothers with babies and even the physically challenged to cycle. To make it easier for tourists, cycles rented in one town can be returned in another to the same chain of stores.

The enthusiasm to return to the cycle as a form of transport as well as a hobby is not limited to Arcachon, Gironde, the department to which Arcachon belongs, boasts of a network of nearly 600 km of cycle tracks. Bordeaux, the capital of Gironde, is a university town that gives all students free use of bicycles that belong to the town. Further north, Nantes offers free raincoats and backpacks to state employees who cycle to work.

The bicycle is bringing revolutionary change to French society. It represents a growing social consciousness, as well as a willingness to make environmentally and socially sensitive choices.

Excerpt from ‘The Latest French Revolution’ by Manisha Gutman in Magazine, supplement to the Sunday edition of The Hindu of Sep.9, 2007.

Grateful thanks to Ms Manisha Gutman and The Hindu.