Mayor Bloomberg praises Paris for rent-a-bike program

BY LINDA HERVIEUX
September 30th 2007

PARIS - Mayor Bloomberg got a two-wheeled lesson yesterday on French efforts to save the planet. In Paris on the second day of a two-city European tour, Bloomberg praised the French capital's innovative rent-a-bike program hailed as a model for other cities to curb traffic pollution.

The trip marks Bloomberg's first transatlantic visit since speculation flared that he is considering a run for President as an independent candidate. Last night, he was scheduled to dine with British Conservative Party leader David Cameron in Blackpool, England, ahead of a speech he will deliver at today's party conference. The tour ends tomorrow in London with security issues and traffic congestion on the agenda.

Environmental issues have boosted Bloomberg's profile and he wasted no time yesterday exporting his vision, touting his 127-point PlaNYC plan and saluting Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe for his Velib bike program. "It's fascinating," Bloomberg said, shortly before watching a demonstration of the bikes, which Parisians rent from docking stations across the city.

New York City Transit officials are already studying the program, which was bankrolled by a private company in exchange for advertising space. "Some things will work in New York and some things won't," Bloomberg said, citing tough road conditions, a lack of protected bike lanes and harsh seasons.

Bloomberg also met the French poverty minister yesterday and then had lunch with Delanoe, whose postprandial cigarette did not seem to bother his rabidly anti-smoking guest. The pair agreed to form a "working committee" to tackle issues facing the two cities.

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