The catastrophic landslide in Wayanad has once again set off a debate on climate change among Keralites. People across the world consider global warming, primarily driven by carbon dioxide emissions, to be a serious concern. The situation is no different in Paris. The weather, unpredictable as ever, has not been kind to the ongoing Olympics Games.
The opening ceremony was drenched in rain, followed by a heat wave with daytime temperatures soaring as high as 38 degrees Celsius. There is still no respite from humidity and sweltering heat.
In fact, Paris is one such city that has responded practically to the immediate impacts of climate change and worked towards lasting solutions. Paris is far ahead of other cities around the world in achieving carbon neutrality. By replacing car trips with bicycle rides, Paris could significantly mitigate carbon emissions and fight against the climate crisis. Cycling is aggressively promoted to reduce carbon footprint as diesel and petrol-fueled vehicles are major sources of harmful pollutants.
Paris is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. People commuting to work or going out shopping by bicycle is a common sight in Paris. There is a large network of dedicated bike paths throughout the city.
A majority of Parisians own a bicycle. Besides, bicycle rentals are readily available throughout the city. There are two private firms that rent out electric cycles. One can go to a bicycle docking station and hire a vehicle by paying online using debit/credit cards or e-wallets. A one-time rental includes payment of the bicycle unlocking fee and the charge for rental time. For unlocking, an amount of €1 (approximately Rs 92) is charged while rental rates start from €7.5 (approximately Rs 690) per half-an-hour.
In 2007, the Mayor of Paris initiated 'Velib', a self-service public bicycle-sharing scheme. The name 'Velib' comes from the French words velo (bicycle) and liberte (freedom), and it is now the second largest bicycle rental system in the world.
Velib encompasses around 14,500 bicycles and 1,400 bicycle stations, located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities, with an average daily ridership of over 85,000.
The Velib system is designed for short-term bicycle rentals. For a 30-minute ride, the charge is around €2 (approximately Rs 184). The rent for electric bicycles is comparatively higher.
With bicycles becoming a popular and dependable mode of transportation, bike thefts are also on the rise in Paris. As per official data, around 6,000 bicycles were stolen in 2023.
According to a Keralite living in Paris, the number of bicycle thefts may be much higher than official figures suggest. "Actual figures are likely to be higher than the data released by the local police. Recently, I lost a bicycle that was parked in front of my house. I did not bother to file a complaint. I bought a used bicycle by paying around €150 (approximately Rs 13,000). I don’t think thieves will be interested in an old bicycle," he said.
