You have probably heard of the pornographers begging for TARP money. Here is another shameless operator:

After using tricks and skuldudgery to win the contract of operating the Paris Velib, Monsieur Decaux is now claiming that theft and vandalism rates are higher than forecast, and is asking for money.

Abstute observers speculate that Decaux is losing money not on the bikes but on lower than expected advertising revenues. The Paris Mayoralty is vowing not to bow to the old man’s request of a bailout.

Charlie LLoyd of the London Cycling Campaign updates us on the plans for London:

Meanwhile in London, the bike hire scheme will be launched on 21st May
2010 with up to 6000 bikes at over 400 locations spaced about 300
metres apart. Registered users will be able to take a bike using
their Oyster card as id. All the financial details are still
confidential while the tendering process goes on. The right to
advertise on the bike, and to name the whole project, will be offered
as a separate contract to be open for tender next month.

Drawings on blackboard by Sharon Montrose‘s husband.