October 5, 2007 (Montreal, QC) — Montreal plans to become the first North American city to mimic the highly popular Velib bike rental program found in Paris, France according to la Presse. The administration of Mayor Gerald Tremblay yesterday announced its ambition to install 2,400 rental bicycles in the city at a cost of some $15 million, with service beginning in 2008.

André Lavallée, who is responsible public transport on the city’s executive committee, announced that some 300 bike docking (rental) stations will be created for the bikes, offering the service from April through November. Thie service is expected to be a money-maker for the city. Opposition politicians wanted more specifics of the program, including the rental fees and the cost of the bikes.

Paris expects to make an estimated $28 million this year from fees paid by 100,000 Velib users. In that city, an annual membership costs $41, allowing members to rent bikes for $1.40 an hour. Some 1,450 docking stations – often displacing car parking spots – are expected in operation by the end of 2007.

A private company, JC Decaux, is a partner with the Velib program, providing start-up capital in exchange for billboard space. A similar program also operates in the French city of Lyon. Environmentalists applaud the programs while motorists fume. There has also been evidence of reduced bike sales in participating cities for about a year after the introduction of the program.

Earlier this week, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the Paris program “fascinating” although he doubted the program would work in his city because of a lack of bike paths, according to the New York Daily News. Noah Budnick, deputy director of Transportation Alternatives, disagrees, claiming studies show a similar concept will work well in New York.