First Bikes, Now Paris Wants to Share Cars

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has announced a plan to initiate a citywide car-sharing system, building on the success of the city's popular bike sharing program.

1 minute read

August 13, 2009, 9:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

The system would start out with 2,000 cars in the city, and 2,000 additional cars in cities surrounding Paris.

"The green scheme, dubbed Autolib (short for "automobile" and "liberté"), is scheduled for launch as early as the end of 2010, although city officials say the startup date could be closer to mid-2011. Advocates say the system would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 22,000 tons a year while improving traffic congestion as fewer Paris residents would need to own cars. It would be the first major city to offer such a service. "This could revolutionize transport," Delanoë told French radio station RMC when he first proposed the program in June 2008."

FULL STORY: Paris's Electric Car Sharing Plan

Monday, August 10, 2009 in Der Spiegel

Infrastructure Transportation Europe Car Sharing Bike Sharing Paris France Velib View More

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