Paris a city for cyclists?

When I go to the running training, I always go on bike. Nothing special for me, I used to do it like this in Holland and here in France I didn't change my habit. The thing that changed is that people now say to me: "Hey, did you come on bike? You're so sporty", followed with: "But you're Dutch". Which explains it all.

I don't understand why so few people cycle here. Our city R. is relatively flat, apart from one climb in the centre (I admit, it's not an easy climb). Compared to Holland, the weather is better in general: it rains less and in the winter snow is rare, as well as black ice (I hate this!). Besides, there are cycle paths. Not too bad for cycling at all! Still, hardly any other cyclists. Well, yes, I see children cycling, but I thing that they, as soon as they get the age of 18, immediately change the bike for a car -like everybody. And, when the weather is nice, on Sunday a can of race bikers is opened. Sometimes I wonder how it is possible this country has a race like the Tour de France.

However, changes are on their way! After Lyon, Paris will become a real bikers city. At least, according the plans of "Vélib". About 20.000 bikes are placed at 750 locations everywhere in Paris; bikes you can rent to a small amount. So, when you need a bike, you take one from one of the stations and once you have reached your destination you park it in another station. In Lyon, where the same idea is carried out in 2005, it is called a succes.  Paris followed, starting this month and other cities follow the coming years. 

I think it's a great development! And I wonder: will Paris ever become a city for cyclists like Amsterdam?