I just read where Rome will soon have a bike sharing program. This is so great - I would love to move around the city and see more things on a city bike. It would make it so fun to get to some of the neighborhoods I have yet to visit.

I wonder what the traffic accident rate increase there will be. Also how difficult will it be for a tourist to "rent" one of the bike - hopefully a normal credit card and not a chip credit card will work.

All I can think of is those famous "Seven Hills"...

Hi Monty - The scheme is due to start in January.

However it will NOT be available for tourists initially - only to Rome residents.

Steve

The hills are hardly worth mentioning - maybe 60-70 m elevation all in all.

I donīt see any problem. Paris isnīt too flat as well and nobody complains.

I am not worried about the hills - I will look forward to Tourists getting the chance to use them. I ride for lots of my transportation here in the States, and having the option of using a bike in Europe (e.g. not bringing my own bike - or the hasssles and cost of renting from a bike shop) make this new service very appealing to me.

It almost makes me want to visit Paris again just to move around a differnt way - I always feel like I can see much more by bicycle than any other means.

Yikes! Have you seen the way they drive in Rome?
I have cousins who live in Rome and I visit often...I wouldn't ride a Vespa in Rome let alone a bicycle!
It's a great idea in theory...but sounds a little too dangerous to me!