Paris has a few things we Washingtonians might envy. The Eiffel Tower, the Left Bank, fine cuisine at every corner - and those thin, stylish, bored Parisians who smoke Gauloises and sip Bordeaux at cafes all day and night.

On a more bourgeois note, I have been in awe of the French capital city's that allows Parisians or visitors to swipe a card, grab a bike, and ride around town to the Louvre.

Envy no more. Washington, D.C., is about to become the first major U.S. city to embark on "Velib" bike rental system, an automated bicycle rental system, much like the Zipcar program for cars.

"We hope to have it fully up and running by spring," says Jim Sebastian, who manages the District's bike and pedestrian programs. D.C. will start with 100 bikes in four kiosks; Paris has 15,000 bikes. "We hope to expand to the Paris level."

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The level of political momentum in making Washington more safe and accommodating to bikes is at an all-time high. We have a mayor who races around on two wheels at lunchtime to practice for triathlons; City Administrator Dan Tangherlini is a regular bike rider; Planning Director Harriet Tregoning traded in her official parking spot to stash bikes; and Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells' Bike Parking Bill is making its way through City Council.

"The stars are lining up for us," says Eric Gilliland, executive director with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

Jim Sebastian has been on a lonely crusade for the past six years to bring D.C. up to the standards of Portland, Seattle or Philadelphia in welcoming bikes. "We've always had political support, but we're certainly experiencing a boost," he says. "More people in bike-friendly neighborhoods are demanding services. It's a good time."

You will see bike kiosks going up in the next few weeks next to new bus shelters in Shaw, Chinatown, Foggy Bottom and U Street. Eastern Market and Adams Morgan will be next. Sebastian hopes to have 10 bike rental kiosks up and running in the near future.

"Say you live in Foggy Bottom, and you want to visit friends or shop at Logan Circle," he says. "You go to a Web site, sign up, get a card, swipe it at the kiosk, rent a bike and ride across town for about $1. At this point it's not for commuters but for utilitarian trips around town."

Wells' legislation would mandate bike parking racks at all government buildings, new apartment and condo construction, and new office buildings. It's sailing through the Council.

Meanwhile, the D.C. Transportation Department has been slowly - very slowly - striping bike lanes through the city's streets. There are about 25 miles designated for bikes; an additional 11 miles are in the works this year. By comparison, Philadelphia has 60 miles of bike lanes and 50 more scheduled to be marked in the next two years.

But, our fashion conscious residents worried about helmet hair might ask, is it cool to ride a bike?

The Parisians say, "Oui."

hjaffe@washingtonian.com