The Continental guide to urban living: how European ways could transform our cities

It would once, perhaps, have been unthinkable. Britain look to France for a bright idea? Pull the other one. But this week, the national habit of pouring scorn on our traditional antagonists over the Channel was put firmly aside as Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, announced plans to embrace an innovative Parisian project in bid to enhance the quality of life in the British capital.

His hints that Britain should follow the example of the French and start to use so-called "grab and go" rentable bicycles to get around marked a coup for green campaigners and - perhaps more significantly - a willingness on the part of Londoners to look to the Continent for schemes designed to inject a little joie de vivre into daily life.

Through the Paris Vélib, or Freedom Bike project, the French capital's authorities provide 20,000 bicycles at 750 dedicated hire points across the city. While launched less than a month ago, it has already been a roaring success: its organiser claims each bike is used on average six times a day.

Even as Mr Livingstone's advisers were investigating introducing the project, a plethora of bold initiatives are getting under way across Europe, prompting observers to ask why they are not being embraced in this country. From the environmental to the recreational, the cultural to the consumerist, the various schemes have one thing in common: they are all, albeit in very different ways, designed to improve the lives of local people.

Where Birmingham has one inner-city beach, for instance, Berlin has dozens of man-made sandy spots where urbanites can relax. Paris has the Nuit Blanche - an annual festival that gives free entry to some of the city's best cultural institutions. Italians and Greeks congregate at outdoor cinemas throughout the summer in a string of beautiful locations.

In London, many communities are fighting the closure of public libraries, but in Madrid, commuters are able to use the Bibliometro system, which allows them to borrow literature at one stop and drop it off at another. All over Europe clever continental ideas are being put into action. Now, campaigners say, it is high time for Britain to catch up.

Five capital ideas

Urban beach

BERLIN

The urban beach concept has taken off in a big way in the German capital, with several sandy stretches attracting city bathers throughout the summer months. The "open air meeting point" on the Spree river is created with 80 tonnes of sand imported from Italy each year. Most of the beaches are free, and offer a chance to people-watch as well as top up one's tan.

Nuit blanche

PARIS

Once a year, Parisians do an all-nighter. It has nothing - much - to do with heavy drinking or illegal substances, but consists of an all night cultural festival that lasts for a designated weekend in October. Known as nuit blanche, the concept has spread to a number of other capitals, but London is not among them.

Bibliometro

MADRID

Bibliometro libraries can be found in a handful of the busiest Madrid metro tube stations. A membership scheme gives readers access to a selection of literature recommended by librarians. Books can be returned via drop-boxes, convenient for the rushed commuter, or exchanged for another book.

Vino sfuzo

ROME

The Italian capital's plethora of bars and restaurants allow citizens to satisfy their taste for a glass or two of vino. When it comes to takeouts, however, they can visit vino sfuzo wholesalers and buy wine from vats, instead of buying yet another bottle. It is both cheaper - up to €3 a bottle - and ecologically sound.

Open-air cinema

ATHENS

Under a council-subsidised project, a network of cinemas allows film fans to watch the big screen beneath the stars. There's one downside, however: many of the cinemas are located in residential areas of the Greek capital, and are therefore required to keep the volume down.