Parisian told to get on their bikes

Residents of the French capital are taking full advantage of a free bike-loan scheme launched in mid-July, borrowing one of 10,000 public-use bicycles stationed at 750 racks across the city to commute into work.

Cyclists are invited to borrow one of the bikes, using a card they receive after subscribing to the service, then return it to the nearest convenient spot once they've finished their travels.

With the miseries of life stuck in the grey English capital this summer only compounded by the rising price of Tube tickets, a green, healthy and refreshing alternative form of transportation would surely be welcomed by London locals.

Better yet, of course, would be a sojourn in Paris itself, which has much more to offer than just the Eiffel Tower, named by disgruntled tourists as the world's most disappointing attraction in a recent survey by Virgin Travel Insurance.

According to the French tourist ministry, France attracts more tourists than any other country in the world, perhaps lured by its aura of romance or the certainty of fine wines and good coffee.