Vélib’ users sue after unfair fines

EIGHT users of the Paris Vélib’ bicycle hire scheme have appealed to a court after being “unfairly” fined for not taking the bikes back promptly after using them.

The users say they were fined about a fortnight after using the bikes for not “giving them back in the 24 hours allowed”. They say a fault in the computerised system that logs the bikes is to blame.

One of them, Negar Zoka, told Le Parisien:“We are all completely in good faith; we are sure that we gave back the bikes, properly attached to the stands, with the green light lit up.” According to a spokeswoman for the firm running the scheme, Somupi, the bikes were eventually returned after “disappearing” for 24 hours.

She added that users were not told that, if they did not take up the option of printing a receipt, they would have no legal proof of putting the bikes back in time.

They have lodged a case against Somupi at the Tribunal d’Instance de Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine).