"Velib for Americans now?" Bicycle Tip by davequ

Saro - thanks much for the posts.

Supposedly, popping up on the web lately are threads "claiming" that Velib now accepts cards (without the chip) from American Express. The threads usually read:
"UPDATE (25 October 2007): The system now accepts American Express and JCB cards that do not have the EU smart chips! Good news for visitors that do not have an EU bank card."

Found one such thread / link here:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Velib_station_(887339707).jpg

and another here:
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/15/11502/473/travel/Even+Americans+Can+Ride+Velib+Bikes

You might want to check into it.

How a velib terminal can discriminate and accept a non-chip card from AMEX vs one from (e.g. Chase) is not clearly stated. Being an engineer / cynic, I would prefer some proof / verification before I get another AMEX card (most merchants in the US hate them due to high fees, which tells me Velib would also).

But good news IF it's true. I'm still trying to verify through the companies.
I am also contacting Eric Rayman (NYTimes) for proof / verification since he is quoted as the source.

If anyone knows for sure if this is NOT true, please post it here.

Hey Don / (Nemorino) - what's your 2-cents?
Thanks everybody!

Mode: AROUND
Type: Bicycle
Website: http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/