In an effort to help the City of Light go green, the French outdoor advertising company JCDecaux has partnered with city officials to launch the largest municipal bike-lending program in the world. "We’re responding to an increasing demand for environmentally friendly transport solutions," says co-CEO Jean-Charles Decaux. Look for the 20,600 Patrick Jouin-designed bicycles parked at 1,450 depots around major tourist sites; a staff of 400 Parisians maintains the inventory full-time. With similar initiatives already under way throughout Europe, the EU’s goal of reducing emissions by 20 percent in the next 13 years may be just a few pedals away.
33-8/92-68-30-00; www.parisinfo.com; bikes are available for a minimal fee and require a deposit.
