The famous Vélib bike rental system that's become a Paris landmark is going though a nightmare of problems that include technical failures and a strike against the system's new operator.
French-Spanish company Smovengo was given the contract last year, replacing JCDecaux, which had run it since the beginning. The new start was meant to bring the system up to standard, with operating bikes in all the stations, and to begin a transition to including electric bikes as well.
But there have been complaints from users that the new app to unlock the bikes frequently fails, that there aren't enough working bikes, and that the batteries on the electric bikes are running out of charge and not being replaced quickly enough.
The battery problem comes from the fact that two-thirds of the stations, which are supposed to recharge the parked bikes, have not yet been connected to the electric grid, requiring Smovengo staff to go to the stations and swap out batteries.
But that's become one of the issues for the 60 or so employees, whose wage contract is still under negotiation, and who object to having battery changes added to their work, which was to consist of trucking bikes around the city to even out distribution, and to pull bikes that need repair.
Smovengo has been slapped with a €1 million fine by AutolibVelib Consortium, the public/private agency that oversees the programs, and the contract may be terminated.
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