Vive La Vélorution

Confronting astronomical gas costs and clogged city arteries, urban residents find a new way to get around. In exchange for little to no fee, they can temporarily rent a bicycle from stations scattered throughout the city and leave them at the destination. The system is wildly popular: For the rental program's first three months in Paris, Vélib provided more than six million rides. Cities offer exclusive billboard advertising rights to the companies that administer the system, and in exchange enjoy reduced pollution, auto congestion and public-transit crowding. These bike rental programs have global appeal – the idea generated by a French advertising executive may soon make an appearance in the US, Russia and even New Zealand. – YaleGlobal