Which Vélib' user has never found themselves in front of a station where all the bikes that are in principle “available” are flat?
Punctures and damage to inner tubes are among the primary causes of unavailability of self-service bicycles.
Every day, no less than 500 Vélib' (or more than 2.5% of the total fleet, recently increased to 19,500 usable bicycles) must be immobilized for this reason.
This mess led Smovengo – the company operating the Vélib' service – to examine the possibility of equipping its two-wheelers with tubeless tires, literally indestructible.
It is the model of solid tires manufactured by the Korean company Tannus (previously specialized in the manufacture of rubber soles for running shoes) which was chosen by the operator.
It could appear quickly on the Vélib'... at least, if the SAVM (the Autolib'Vélib'Métropole Union which brings together the 62 municipalities member of the service) gives the green light.
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