What about Brussels?
Brussels had its first bike sharing scheme, "Cyclocity," in 2006. The bikes (there were about 250 of them, mostly in the city centre) were quite heavy and only had three speeds which many considered inappropriate for the relief of the streets of Brussels. Also, the system of cycling paths was even worse than it is today. In short: the system was a flop compared to the huge success of its counterparts in Paris and Lyon. A second and more successful attempt was made in 2009 when Cyclocity was replaced by Villo!. As of February 2011, the network offered 2,500 bicycles at 162 locations in 11 communes. However, many of these stations (especially those located in the upper regions of Brussels) are regularly empty while others remain full.
What about the bikes?
A Villo! bike is not exactly lightweight, but rather a sturdy, reliable vehicle. It comes with an adjustable saddle, a seven-speed gear, front and rear lights, a basket, and a lock to securely park the bike. You can attach a child seat to the seat post. You pick up your bike at any station and return it to any station you like.
How do I go about this?
There are two possibilities:
- Register online, pay 30 € for a one-year subscription, wait for your card to arrive in the mail and cycle as much as you want for the next 365 days.
- Go directly to a Villo! station, purchase a day or week ticket and cycle as much as you want (the first 30 minutes are free).
Bits and pieces
- You can also use Villo! with your Mobib card - just select the appropriate option when you sign up for the service.
- When you use Villo!, your trips are taken into account for the initiative "20 million kilometres".
- The Stanhope hotel offers guests a package called "A green walk in Brussels" which includes a Villo! subscription.
- The space needed for Villo! stations is equivalent to 400 parking spots.
- "Where's my Villo?" is an initiative of frustrated, but constructive users of the scheme who are trying to improve it.
Happy cycling!
This article was originally published in the September 2011 edition of the Sunbeams Newsletter.
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