As for the “French, government run scheme” comment. Though the French government is not involved in the day-to-day operations of Vélib, it was the Mairie de Paris (Paris city council) that originally proposed installing the system (JCDecaux won the bid), and it is the Mairie de Paris that indirectly funds the system (by giving billboard space to JCDecaux, an ad company with no previous experience in bicycles). It depends how you want to classify “government-run.” If a government wants to build a new, say, army hospital, it will sub-contract out the work to a privately-held construction company. But you’d still say this construction is “government-run.” By far, the majority of “government-run” initiatives are sub-contracted out.

In addition, as a result of the high rate of vandalism, which makes the program economically untenable for JCDecaux, the Mairie de Paris has agreed to pay $500 per bike needing replacement.

I did not dispute that the Vélib system was either popular, or widely used. Sure, it’s handy, I’ve used it a bunch, but almost every time I use it, there’s always something about it that really annoys me. I was merely trying to highlight some of these problems.

And as for the car passenger/pedestrian pollution point, I am not entirely convinced. Perhaps this is true of taxis, which sit in traffic all day, or if people roll the windows down, but, from personal, intuitive, sensory experience, I’ve never, ever felt as much pollution in a car than as a pedestrian/cyclist. I’d like to see the research.

Velib is not accurately described as a ‘French, government run scheme.’ It is a privately supplied scheme as you note further below.

The JC Decaux company is a Neuilly (Paris) based; not British.

Velib is not perfect either but still very popular and workable over all as prove the c. 60 million trips logged. And there is no sign of weakening.