Sources: Ici, VeloDisco, Actu Marseille Image sources: Ici and Actu Marseille

Two-seater shared bikes and cargo bikes are becoming an ever more common sight in France, following recent deployments in Cherbourg and Marseille by two different operators.

The Cotentin region has launched France’s first shared longtail cargo bike scheme in Cherbourg, aiming to provide a more utilitarian style of bike-sharing. Jointly developed by operator Ecovelo and manufacturer Douze Cycles, it is designed to be compatible with the existing recharging docking stations in the Cap Cotentin network, and is capable of carrying adult or child passengers, or loads such as shopping. With rental costing no more than the hire of a standard shared bike, it is positioned as a credible alternative to the car, and aimed at those who do not have the space or budget for a cargo bike of their own.

In Marseille, Pony is one of two shared-bike operators to bring their mobility solutions to the city at the start of July, alongside Voi. The point of difference with Pony is that their e-bikes are all two-seaters, and in the first month it was reported they had been ridden by 20,000 users, riding an average distance of 3.8 km.

The bikes join the 2,800 bikes available in the Levélo municipal bicycle services, and a further 1,200 bikes in total have been announced by the end of this year.

Marseille’s mayor, Benoît Payan, has called for the suspension of shared e-scooters by 2027, in response to increasing complaints from pedestrians and drivers regarding clutter and poor riding behaviour.