The sun graced the sky on this morning’s inauguration of the blue bicycle. Anticipated for months, hundreds of people gathered at the center of Garibaldi Square to try it out. Wearing t-shirts and caps branded with the “blue bicycle” logo, and sporting bright yellow backpacks, many already had the bicycle in their possession. Lucky ones? No, they were employees of the City of Nice. “We are participating in setting up the bicycles today,” declared a man in his fifties, seated on his bike. “We’ll travel around the city and leave the blue bike at an assigned station. It’s fun, and plus, I’m the first to test it,” he concluded. In total, 900 bicycles will be put into service throughout the day. On the stage, the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, expressed his vision: “I want another mode of transportation for the city,” a statement that was met with applause from the bicycle bells.
This morning, everyone seems to be enjoying this mode of transport. “I was eager to try it, but I must say it’s not very practical for me,” confided a small, slender woman. “It’s too heavy and too high, I find, but perhaps it’s just a matter of getting used to it.” A first negative point for this Niรงoise version of bike-sharing, which differs from its close relative, the Marseillais “le Vรฉlo”. Unlike the Phocaean bicycle, which features a magnetic system directly on the docking poles and modern touchscreen interfaces at the docks and retrieval panels, the little Niรงois opted for a simple anti-theft cable connecting the bike to the dock. The retrieval of the bikes will be facilitated by simple push buttons and a minimalist, slightly retro interface. The Niรงois bike, meanwhile, remains akin to its French counterparts. It features a basket, a kickstand, an adjustable seat, and three gears. However, some cyclists are sticking to their old habits. Old bikes are coming out of the garages, creating some competition. “I prefer my bike,” declared an elderly man, “at least I know it and I’m not time-limited when using it.” In any case, blue is the color that is likely to stand out the most in the streets in the coming days.
