After years of administrative and legal disputes, the Canton of Geneva and 20 municipalities have joined forces to set up a bicycle network.
In Chêne-Bourg, the “VéloPartage” station is located on the esplanade of the Léman Express station.
–Keystone
–
It is the end of an administrative and judicial saga that will have lasted for years. Finally, the canton of Geneva has a self-service bicycle network (VLS) worthy of the name. It was inaugurated on Tuesday. Twenty municipalities, including the largest, joined the project.
–
State Councilor Serge Dal Busco admitted that Geneva was lagging far behind other cities in Switzerland and abroad in the area. Despite everything, the new service arrives on time at the end of the lake, at a time when the enthusiasm for cycling has never been so strong, said the magistrate.
–
In total, 120 stations are scattered throughout the municipalities of Bardonnex, Bernex, Carouge, Céligny, Chêne-Bougeries, Chêne-Bourg, Cologny, Confignon, Geneva, Grand-Saconnex, Lancy, Meyrin, Onex, Perly-Certoux, Plan-les-Ouates, Satigny, Thônex, Troinex, Vernier and Versoix. The City of Geneva takes the lion’s share, with 47 stations in its territory alone.
–
Currently, 200 bicycles, including 60 electric, are available. The project partner is the Danish company Donkey Republic, one of the global bicycle sharing platforms present in many countries and which was created in 2015. Bikes can be unlocked with a mobile phone.
–
Gradual deployment
The number and location of the stations may be adapted over the coming months depending on the actual use that will be made of them. The network must develop in stages throughout the territory of all 20 municipalities, to reach an offer of at least 650 bikes by 2023.
–
Classic bikes can be borrowed for free for one hour until September 30. Then, their use will cost 1.80 francs for 15 minutes, 3.50 francs for an hour, 13.80 francs for a day. The prices for electric bikes are about twice as high.
–
Donkey Republic collaborates with Genèveroule. The association has been promoting soft mobility since 2002 in Geneva. It also helps in the professional integration of people having difficulty finding a job by offering 200 jobs. Genèveroule will take care of the maintenance of the stations and the maintenance of the bikes.
–
(ATS / NXP)
–
