How to Get Around Lyon, France by Bike using Velo’V

Lyon, France is a city dedicated to promoting public transportation and preserving the environment, and the innovative Velov program is the most visible sign of this commitment. With hundreds of public bike kiosks throughout Lyon offering cheap, short-term bike rentals, as well as dedicated bicycle lanes on main streets, the city fosters a biking-friendly culture for all to enjoy. Here is how to make the most of the Velo’V bike sharing program on your next visit to Lyon.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chip-and-pin Credit Card
• Lyon TCL Metro card (optional)

1. 
   Velo'V Bike Rental Station

   Find a red Velov bike stand near you. If you are at a hotel in downtown Lyon, there are most likely several within a short walking distance. When in doubt, check the interactive Velov station map (see links, below).

2. 
   Velo'V Maintenance

   Inspect the bikes available, checking the brakes, tires, and overall condition of the bike.

3. 
   TCL metro cards can also be used in Velov stations.

   Next, you’ll need a Velov card. These come in daily, weekly, or yearlong varieties, and you can get the short term ones (valid for one day or one week) at any Velov stand in Lyon.

4. 

   Insert your credit card and follow on-screen instructions.

5. 

   Choose a PIN number for your new Velov card. You will need this every time you rent a bike in Lyon with this card.

6. 
   Detail of a Velov

   Tap your card and select the bike you would like to use. This automatically unlocks that bike and gives you 45 seconds to withdraw it.

7. 

   Pull the bike you selected off of the stand, hop on, and bon voyage!

Tips & Warnings

• Some stations are more popular than others, and these may occasionally run out of bikes. Use the station’s on-screen tool to locate the closest Velov stand with available bikes to rent.
• Velovs charge by the half hour (with the first half hour free), so be sure to keep track of how much time you spend biking.
• If you change bikes before the half hour elapses, you can switch to a new bike and reset the half hour grace period indefinitely.
• Always check the brakes and the tires before selecting a bike from a Velov stand.

Resources

• Official Lyon Velov Website
• Interactive Map of Velov Stations in Lyon

[JanieWrites]

on 7/2/2009 What a great idea!