Can Free Bikes Alleviate Paris Congestion

In a city of 2 million where only 150,000 own bicycles, can Parisians be persuaded to give up their cars for free bicycles scattered throughout the city to use for short distance travel?  The Paris municipality thinks their plan, called "Velib", may help to alleviate some part of the traffic congestion that Paris is known for.  The city council has deposited 20,000 heavy-duty bikes around the city at 750 different locations which people can pick up and return to any other Velib location.  Cost is free for the first 30 minutes then increases incrementally after that.  Bikes are "checked out" using cards that double as Paris Metro cards. For more details check out BBC.  or the Official Velib Site.