If finding a Vélib can sometimes be a real obstacle course, a solution finally exists to stop wasting time and energy. Coded by a Parisian developer, a new application at last makes it possible to sort self-service bikes and offer us the best choice directly at the terminals. Use it to find the best cycles in 1 click.
An app to find the best Vélib’ in Paris
All year round, it’s the same old story. Between empty stations, out-of-service bicycles and bicycles that can’t be unhooked from the terminal, getting a Vélib’ is sometimes a mission impossible. And the situation tends to get worse during the summer months. That’s why it’s perfect timing to download and test Vélibest, an application developed by a Parisian to help you choose the best self-service bike, without any nasty surprises.
The genesis of this project was the youtuber Technopolis, who exploited loopholes in the bike rental service to extract a wealth of data, particularly on bike journeys. Using artificial intelligence, it sifted through the average distance of a given journey, the estimated battery life and the time remaining attached to the terminal for each bike. This incredible pool of data was then used by Thomas, the web developer behind the application.
Extremely easy to use, Vélibest is presented as a map of Paris listing all the stations. For each point, the number of remaining Vélib’ is displayed, as are the available terminals. But what makes the app so interesting is that each available bike is accompanied by a score out of 100, indicating its general condition.
So there you have it, no more nasty surprises on your bike!