Liberté, Égalité, Vélocité

The New York Times reports from gay Paris on the mayor's efforts to reduce car traffic and revolutionize urban culture by way of the bicycle. Under Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, Paris has added 125 miles of bike paths and launched the Vélib program, which provides thousands of inexpensive bike rentals, dispersed at docking stations around the city.

Meanwhile, back in the Big Apple, Mayor Bloomberg's plan to institute "congestion pricing" in Manhattan (following London's successful example) is running into predictable political resistance. Perhaps bike rentals could help cinch the deal.