Circulating by bike during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will undoubtedly be the best way to travel from one Olympic site to another. This article outlines the various options available for renting bikes, covering potential pitfalls, and concludes with recommendations.
1. Independent Rental Shops
This is the obvious choice if you plan to use a bike extensively during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Numerous rental shops exist in Paris and its suburbs, easily found through an internet search for “rent a bike Paris.” Make sure to reserve your bikes before the start of the games, compare different offers, and pay special attention to theft insurance.
Cost of Service: Prices vary depending on the rental shop and the quality of the bikes. Electric bikes generally cost more. On average, expect:
- Just under €20/day for a traditional bike
- Between €25 and €50/day for an electric bike
We offer electric bikes for rent during the Paris 2024 Olympics, using the same bikes we use for our guided electric bike tours in Paris. The rental cost is €45/day per bike. Contact us by email or phone for more information.
Advantages:
- Simple to use
- Ensures availability during peak times
- Bikes are generally in good condition
- Convenient for changing locations frequently
- Ideal for long-term rentals
Disadvantages:
- Securely lock the bike to prevent theft
- Not easily combined with other modes of transportation in Paris (metro + bike) (taxi + bike)
2. Vélib’
Operated by the Paris City Hall, Vélib’ is a bike-sharing service with 1,500 stations scattered throughout Paris and some surrounding cities. You can rent a bike directly at a station or through the mobile app using your payment card. Traditional and electric bikes are available at each station and must be returned to a station.
Mobile App: Use the Vélib’ app to pay for a bike, find nearby stations, check the availability of bikes at a station, review bike conditions (user ratings), and monitor battery status.
- Download here:
- App Store: Vélib’ Official App
- Google Play: Vélib’ App
Cost of Service: Various temporary packages are available; summarized as follows:
- The first 30 minutes cost €3.
- €1 for every 30 minutes for traditional bikes.
- €2 for every 30 minutes for electric bikes
Advantages Vélib’:
- Very affordable for trips over 15 minutes
- 20,000 Vélib bikes available in different stations during the Paris 2024 Olympics
- Option to lock and retrieve the bike later (paid service)
- Available in nearby Paris suburbs
- Easily combined with metro and taxi use
- No need to worry about bike theft
Disadvantages Vélib’:
- Bikes are not always in excellent condition; check before renting (saddle, tires, and pedals)
- Stations may be full when trying to return a bike
- No bikes available during high demand
- Initial usage may be challenging
3. Private Operators of Electric Bikes
Private operators like Lime, Dott, and Tier have a considerable presence in Paris. Operating through mobile apps, you create an account with your payment card, identify available bikes nearby, unlock them through the app, and start your bike journey.
It’s wise to create accounts with all three operators to maximize your chances of finding available bikes during peak hours in Paris.
You can also use the RATP app (the public entity managing the Paris metro) to locate and rent available bikes from any operator at the same price. RATP Bikes and Scooters
Cost of Service: All three operators have the same per-minute rate for electric bikes: €1 for unlocking the vehicle and 25 cents per minute for the journey.
Advantages:
- Very affordable for short trips under 15 minutes
- Easy to use
- Easily combined with metro and taxi use
- Bikes are generally in satisfactory condition
- No need to worry about bike theft
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for extended use
- Becomes expensive for long journeys
- No bikes available during high demand
- Service is rarely available outside Paris
There are numerous options for obtaining bikes during the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, careful consideration is needed to choose the most suitable solution. The influx of tourists will likely saturate availability, especially in good weather. The preferred solution is to book bikes in advance for long-term rentals. Self-service rentals can only be combined with public transportation and taxis. Create accounts with all operators. The number of bikes available is unlikely to be sufficient to accommodate the additional one million tourists expected during the period.