Theft and Vandalism Threaten One of World's Largest Bike-Share Systems

"According to figures unearthed by Le Monde last week, 9,000 bikes from Paris' Vélib' bike-share system were damaged or stolen last year," reports Feargus O’Sullivan. "Even with ongoing repairs and replacements making up some of the shortfall, Paris bike-share numbers have dwindled sharply."" 

"Various reasons have been given for the wave of thefts," he explains. "Some have floated the idea that poor kids are hitting back at what they see as mainly Bobo bike-share users. Others have insisted that teens are simply bent on wanton destruction, while it’s also been noted that a minority of thieves are people stealing bikes to ride home on when they’re drunk."

"Whatever the reasons, the huge losses are causing a rethink of the scheme’s scope."