In April 2017, the Ville de Luxembourg launched a call for tender for setting up and operating a self-service eBike system across the city; tollowing the analysis of the tenders submitted as well as the negotiations with the candidates, the new contract - to operate until 1 January 2028 - has been awarded to JCDecaux Luxembourg SA (the current Vel'oh operator), its offer being economically the most advantageous.
The new contract will be operational from 1 July 2018 and will include (in the first phase) 80 stations (up from the current 69) with 800 bicycles, all with electric assistance: Luxembourg city will be one of the first European cities to offer a network with 100% electric bicycles. Like the old (Vel'oh) system, the bicycles will be available 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
The contract has been arranged to allow neighbouring municipalities to join the network and avail of its advantages - comfortable, flexible and ecological transport.
As the new contract caters for brand new equipment, existing stations and bicycles will be phased out and replaced to ensure continuity of customer service. The details of this transitional phase, the practicalities and the design of the new bikes and new stations will be revealed as they become available.
Alost 8,000 people currently have Ve'loh subscriptions. One of the major differences compared to at present - apart from the evolution to eBikes - is that this contract does not involve outdoor advertising panels close to the bike stations: instead, the value of the 10-year contract is around €15 million.
This contract is part of the city's initiative to encourage more people to use bicycles for transport in the city.
