I agree with the sentiment of excessive centralization in France. However what really is happening is that things are still centralized, only not everyone gets

I agree with the sentiment of excessive centralization in France. However what really is happening is that things are still centralized, only not everyone gets to vote for the mayor that makes the real decisions. As far as the Vélib' affaire goes: it opened in July 2007 in Paris and they announced it was going to expand to the banlieue as soon as it started. However JCDecaux's main competitor Clear Channel claimed it was a new service and a new competitive tender was needed. The trial dragged on for 18 months, but eventually JCDecaux won and Vélib' was extended, but it wasn't finished before the end of 2009, two and a half years later than in Paris. You can read more about it in the history section of the French wikipedia article.