Nearly two years after the iconic Vélos Bleus were replaced by Pony and Lime, the promise of modern and accessible mobility is being put to the test. While new technologies are appealing, high prices and parking are causing dissatisfaction.
The association Nice à Vélo has done the math. Pony and Lime bikes are being used, it’s true, but mainly by vacationers. For Nice locals, they don’t represent a real alternative. The reason is a simple and massive hurdle: the price.
At launch, Lime charged €3.99 for half an hour and Pony €3. Two years later, both operators have aligned: €5.99 for 30 minutes. Practically, a ten-minute ride costs more than a bus or tram ticket. For residents, shared bikes have become a small luxury.
Jérôme, 52, a nurse, has experienced it. For a few months, he rode a bike home from the hospital. A ten-minute journey, just a few streets down. “But it cost me almost four euros each time,” he explains. “Eventually, I stopped. I prefer to walk.”
Result: Pony and Lime remain convenient for troubleshooting, emergencies, or an impromptu ride. But not for regular commutes. As Patrick sums it up: “We feel like these bikes are designed for tourists, not for us.”
Parking: less chaos, but still congested
In the beginning, it was total chaos. Bikes were placed across sidewalks, in front of shops, or abandoned like tired scooters. Since then, drop-off zones have been set up, and the city has regained some order.
But in very busy areas, chaos is never far away. Promenade des Anglais, Quai des États-Unis… the crowded zones overflow, and bikes pile up in colorful pyramids.
Marion, 22, a law student, knows the problem well. She uses Pony once or twice a week to go to university. “When it’s full, I leave the bike wherever I can. There’s no way I’m spending five more minutes looking while the meter is ticking.”
Three major problems are identified:
• The lack of capacity limitation in the zones: the most frequented ones overflow easily.
• The per-minute pricing encourages users to end their ride as quickly as possible, sometimes neglecting parking.
• Fraudulent uses, such as forced unlocking, lead to illegal drop-offs and rule circumvention.
Environmental impact is overestimated
On paper, Pony and Lime tick all the boxes of eco-friendly transport. In reality, it’s less impressive. Example: according to the Nice à Vélo association, Lime replaced its entire fleet after just one year. A thousand bikes gone to scrap or recycling, no one really knows. A thousand brand-new bikes arrived in their place. Not sure the carbon footprint balances out.
And then there’s the usage. These bikes rarely replace a car. In Nice, they are mainly used by tourists who, without them, would have walked, taken the tram… or settled at a cafe terrace.
In other words, their environmental impact is much less significant than official communication suggests.
A Political Choice
The presence of these bikes is due to the Métropole making a choice: delegating the service to private operators. In return, it collects a public domain occupancy fee. What was supposed to be a mobility service for residents has become a product tailored for image and tourist attraction.
Meanwhile, the famous 2021-2026 Bike Plan proposed long-term rental service, affordable and designed for daily use. Four years later, still nothing. Result: Nice residents continue to wait for a sustainable solution, while tourists happily cruise along the Promenade…
