Rome, Paris offer bicycle-sharing service

Tourists as well as traditionally-car-loving Romans are invited to use a bicycle-sharing program to reduce smog and congestion in central Rome. About 200 red bicycles have been distributed across 19 locations, including the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Roman system start with the first 1/2 hour being free, and a 1€ fee for each 1/2 hour thereafter. The bicycles contain a GPS unit, and are not permitted outside Rome itself. A similar system called Velib, photos below, is already in place in Paris, where a rider may use a bicycle with a deposit of €30.