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The opening of the Ve’lib rental bike scheme brought biking in Paris into the public eye this summer. Bikes can be rented from numerous points in Paris, and the first half hour is free (though you do have to register). So far, the scheme looks like a success – Parisians are nipping to meetings or out to lunch on a Velib. They’ve already taken 2 million trips in just over a month since the launch date.
But while Parisians are mainly using the Velib for short runs, the city also has some fine longer distance tracks to offer the more serious cyclist.
Start out gently with the Bois de Boulogne, to the west of the city, which some good bike tracks in leafy surroundings. You can hire a bike from the entrance of the Jardin d’Acclimatation, every day from April to October (and in the low season, on weekends and public holidays). You can easily spend a whole afternoon here; as well as biking, people-watching is a great sport, and the park has numerous other attractions. For fine views over Paris, cross the Seine by the pedestrian bridge to the Park of Saint-Cloud; there’s a short, steep climb, but once there the fine formal gardens of this former royal domain are open to explore. (You can also rent bikes, including tandems and trios, from the charmingly named ‘Velocipéderie’ in the park.)