Paulette: the custom bike tour agency arrives in the Lyon metropolitan area!
Paulette bikes are coming to Lyon! Discover this network of bike rental agencies, which benefited from the support of ONLYLYON Invest, the Métropole de Lyon, and the Lyon Tourist and Convention Office to set up locally.
Enjoy a tailor-made route, rent a bike for a few hours or several days, hop on a train and admire exceptional landscapes while leaving your bike at the next drop-off point… This is the promise of Paulette, a bike rental agency that also offers custom cycling itineraries. Already available in eleven cities across France, this responsible tourism solution opened in Lyon on February 28, 2023—exciting news for fans of one-way cycling trips!
Paulette: bike rentals for alternative sightseeing
Paulette is a network of bike rental agencies that also offers customers custom itineraries. Mountain bikes (MTB), hybrid bikes (VTC), kids’ bikes, electric bikes, or even tandems—the mobility options are varied. The main advantage of the network is that you can rent a bike at one agency and return it at any of Paulette’s 20 drop-off points across France.
The project started in 2019 in Toulouse. In February 2023, following Nantes, Bordeaux, Paris, and Argelès-sur-Mer, Paulette opened a branch in Lyon at 71 cours Lafayette, in the 6th arrondissement.
“The opening of our Lyon agency marks a key milestone in Paulette’s development. We now offer a complete bike rental service along France’s most beautiful routes.”
– Hélène Fauveau, co-founder of Paulette
The Lyon metropolitan area: an ideal territory for bike tourism solutions
Lyon is perfectly located to develop cycle tourism, as it sits at the crossroads of two major bike routes:
- ViaRhôna (EuroVelo 17), connecting Lake Geneva to Sète
- La Voie Bleue (Véloroute 50), crossing the Moselle and Saône rivers
The Lyon metropolitan area also offers 1,173 kilometers of cycling infrastructure. And if that’s not enough, riders can take a train to start a route outside urban areas or enjoy a trip without retracing their steps.
With 1.4 million inhabitants, Lyon’s local customer base is significant. Thanks to its transport infrastructure, it is also a gateway for domestic and international visitors. Each year, the city welcomes a large number of tourists. Moreover, the Métropole de Lyon actively promotes more responsible tourism on its territory.
For all these reasons, Hélène and Alain Fauveau chose to open a bike rental agency in Lyon.
“It was essential for us to position our service in a city of this size and dynamism.”
– Hélène Fauveau, co-founder of Paulette
Tailored support for Paulette’s launch in Lyon
Launching a cycle tourism project like Paulette in Lyon aligns with the goals of the Métropole de Lyon’s Responsible Tourism Development Plan. Adopted in December 2021, this plan defines the territory’s tourism strategy and ambitions to make it a model for sustainable tourism.
Hélène and Alain Fauveau received support from the Métropole de Lyon and guidance from ONLYLYON Invest and the Lyon Tourist and Convention Office. ONLYLYON Invest helped them find premises, develop communication strategies, and connect with Lyon’s ecosystem.
The Métropole de Lyon also facilitated links between Paulette and the Tourist Office, as well as the ViaRhôna and Voie Bleue cycling route management organizations. Through the Tourist Office, Hélène Fauveau was able to explore Lyon’s bike and cycle tourism offerings. The office, which also evaluates applications for the Accueil Vélo label, provided guidance to the company on the program.