Velib Bikes also in Warsaw?

WARSAW, Poland – Warsaw’s authorities are seriously looking into the idea of introducing a public bike rental system in Poland’s Capital. Several meetings were organized by the Transportation Department with potential operators of the public bike system. Among them JCDecaux who is handling the public bikes in Vienna, Lyon and Paris.

Their presentation was in great style and costs. JCDecaux airlifted from France a Vélib stations with two bikes and placed it in front of Warsaw’s City Hall. Everyone visiting the presentation – civil servants, members of the press and pro-cycling NGOs were able to rent a bike with a dummy mobility card and take a spin around the square.

The one hour presentation revealed the huge logistics behind the scenes in order to keep Vélib operational. That operation includes on spot repair teams; electric vehicles with tools for more serious repairs (and to haul bikes to the repair shop). Vans to circulate bikes between stations with bigger and smaller demand are another part of the scheme.

Crucial in the entire Vélib operation is the ‘control tower’ where ‘controllers’ predict where bikes are gathering and using all free parking spaces and where there’s a big demand an no bikes available.

Currently Warsaw authorities are preparing the conditions and rules for the future contract. A European wide tender will consequently be opened for every supplier to take part in the contest who will get the Warsaw contract.