You used to get two free rides on an electric Velib'? Not anymore, as of August 12, 2025. According to Le Parisien, Velib' rates will be changing, whether for new subscriptions or renewals. And the major change concerns V-Max subscribers (whose rate remains 9.30 euros per month), who could use an electric bike twice a day for 45 minutes at no extra charge, making it easier to climb the few Parisian hills, for example.
Now you'll have to pay! The first two journeys will cost 50 centimes, then 2 euros for each additional journey. Only beneficiaries of the solidarity fare will continue to enjoy free travel, while young people and senior citizens will be entitled to a 20% discount.
As for the V-Plus subscription, which only applies to mechanical bikes, it will now cost 4.30 euros per month instead of 3.10 euros. There are also changes for occasional users, who until now have been able to sign up free of charge and pay according to their journeys. From August, all V-Libre subscriptions will cost six euros, enough to prepay a certain number of journeys, but not very useful if you're only here for a few days.
A change in the pricing structure voted by Agemob in June, which risks"altering behavior, by reducing the use of electric models, which represent 40% of the fleet and are each used twelve times a day on average, three times more than their mechanical counterparts" evokes the newspaper. What's more, nearly 3,000 of the 20,000 Vélib' are missing in the capital this summer, due to vandalism"three times higher than normal", and many of them are faulty, according to users.
According to Le Parisien, some people are already thinking of finding another solution, particularly among competitors. Another new feature is that if a user is faced with a full station to return his or her bike, he or she will have to contact customer service, thus obtaining 15 free minutes to find a free one, but if you're in a hurry and leave the bike nearby, it will cost you 8 euros! Please note that if you hook up your bike incorrectly, a penalty of between 18 and 38 euros will be deducted.
Official website
www.velib-metropole.fr
