DC: First to offer an American Velib?

It was only natural that Paris' Velib program would go viral, and infect European capitals from London to Rome.

We were wondering out loud which American city would take a bold step into a similar rollout of free (or low-cost) city commuter bikes. Chicago's Mayor Daley was looking like an early attacker when he made a trip to the City of Lights this summer -- and he's an enthusiastic cyclist himself. New York was on his wheel, and probably was the first to ride the course with a downtown pilot program.

But really, no one has put their money where their American mouths are-- until now. Incredibly, it looks like Washington DC will be the first, and it will be supported by advertising provided by Clear Channel.

No doubt the Mountain Biker in Chief will be pleased with this, even if it does look suspiciously like a bleeding-heart social program to subvert Big Oil.