Cycling in Paris (Do you want to die?)

[Matthew_T]

I was just pondering if cycling in Paris around the busy areas is a death waiting to happen? We all know the roundabout around the Art de Triomph (wrong spelling), and how busy it is, but what about cycling around it? I can remember an episode of TopGear where they drove around it and everyone was barging through and beeping their horns.
I wonder if anyone has chanced it? Its not exactly like America where each unsignalled intersection is organised.

 

[Hip Priest]

I've no idea - but would be interested to know what the attitude is like towards cyclists in France. One imagines it'd be more favourable than in the UK.

 

[Matthew_T]

I've no idea - but would be interested to know what the attitude is like towards cyclists in France. One imagines it'd be more favourable than in the UK.

Probably but that doesnt mean it would be safer.

 

[vickster]

Can't be any worse than much of London or other big UK cities??

 

[Globalti]

I used to live in Paris and when I had visitors one of the highlights of their visit would be a drive around the city at night including a circuit of the Arc de Triomphe. Since traffic entering the roundabout has priority the technique is to drive at full speed straight towards the cars in circulation knowing that the old "priorité a droite" rule is instilled in the French from birth. Magically a gap would appear but then you would have to be careful at the next road because others would charge in calling your bluff in turn. From there I would race down the Champs Elysées and into the Rue de Rivoli from where we would go up the street where all the couturiers had their shops, YSL, Guerlain, Chloe, Chanel etc. It was important to be first away from the lights so if you were blocked by a car in front you would hit the horn if they didn't start moving within a hundredth of a second of the light turning green. For some reason passengers always seemed to clutch the sides of the seat and hold their breath. My brother-in-law once breathed a sigh of relief on arriving back at my flat and remarked "that's what you call precision driving." The final part of the tour of Paris was usually a trip around the several "pickup" spots where you could see some outrageously skimpily dressed women or blokes dressed as women and one spot in the Bois de Boulogne where cars would pull alongside and the couple inside would look over to see if you were interested in a little light wife-swapping.

Ah! Ce n'était q'un petit frisson!

I have an elderly French friend who still rides around the leafy suburb of Neuilly where I lived but no, the answer is that you never saw cyclists in Paris itself.

 

[byegad]

I've seen people cycling around it. Mainly on sit up and beg bikes and they got away with it, while I was watching. But whenever we go we stand by the Champs Élysées exit and wait FOR A BUMP. We've only missed seeing one once in a dozen visits.

I'd not want to cycle around it myself.

 

[Bicycle]

I took my daughter (then 15) to paris with MTBs in the car a couple of years ago.

I'd already ridden a lot in france; she hadn't.

We were lucky with the weather.

Cycling in Paris is a hoot!

Drivers seem largely well disposed towards bicycles.

We had a couple of near misses, but it was a cracking weekend.

They've had Boris Bikes there for years (Velib). There are often a few of them on pavements, but that was only a problem when we were walking.

I was asked at the time why I took bikes when we could have used Velib. in truth, I thought the Velib bikes just looked a bit pants and less responsive, robust and fun than out 'urbanised' MTBs. Evidence while we were there supported that guess.

Cycling is Paris was huge fun and is an entertaining way to get about in a beautiful city. We were there for the Louvre (also huge fun) but the cycling was better than the pictures.

 

[Arch]

Probably but that doesnt mean it would be safer.

Eh? Better attitude surely means safer by definition. How else would it be better?

My experience of rural France is that cycling is much more pleasant because of the attitude of drivers.

I also gather that Paris is a whole different country to France, according to many French people!

I'm sure it's no worse than bits of London. Mind you, I don't know that I have the courage to cycle in London!

 

[gavroche]

I have never cycled In Paris but I love driving there. Great fun . There are thousands of scooters there and very few motorbikes.

 

[Bicycle]

I have never cycled In Paris but I love driving there. Great fun . There are thousands of scooters there and very few motorbikes.

Didn't I meet you on the barricades in '32?

Aren't you Eponine's brother?

You must know Paris pretty well....

 

[Crankarm]

I think that cycling L'Arc de Triomphe might be INTERDIT maintenant.

Anyway in France proper cyclists ie roadies are worshipped and given lots of room and consideration where as ordinary people, commuters and plodders on bicycles who hold up la circulation are despised.

I cycled in Paris in 2004 when I rode my loaded Brompton from Gare du Nord to Austerlitz to take the TGV to Biarritz and the Pyrenees. It's not for the faint hearted but it is fun providing you can dodge all les merdes. Once you are used to it, I should imagine it is far nicer than cycling in London or in any city of the UK. I also drove around Paris a few times when I worked in la France for 2-3 years a few decades ago when they had their franc. So a lot may have changed ie Velib and new cycle paths. Don't attempt to cycle around the peripherique though. This would be certain death and hopefully the rossers would get to you before you were killed.

I can heartily recommend Stephen Clarke's book - A Year in the Merde set in Paris, his battle with French beaurocracy, the 3 day week and the ministry to protect the French language against anglais.

 

[gavroche]

Didn't I meet you on the barricades in '32?

Aren't you Eponine's brother?

You must know Paris pretty well....
[/quote
Do you know my father? Victor Hugo.

 

[Davidc]

I last rode in Paris - on a vélib - about 2 years ago. I last rode in London - on a Boris - about 3 weeks ago.

I've ridden in Paris a good few times and London rather more.

I found Paris easier than London. Generally better behaviour from motorists. That said I've never had any real issues in London. I do ride defensively though.

I've also ridden a hire bike - Villo - in Brussels a couple of times. Rather have london or Paris but it's acceptable. Last time the bike had a funny shaped front wheel after a little incident with a tram line so don't know if they'll let me have one again!

 

[mcshroom]

I'm sure it's no worse than bits of London. Mind you, I don't know that I have the courage to cycle in London!

I don't know about rush hour, but I've found cycling in London a lot safer and easier than I expected on my few visits[sup][1][/sup]. Central London traffic doesn't seem to move that quickly, and there's lots of big bus lanes. If you can handle York you should be fine in London IMHO


[sup][1][/sup]Admittedly I probably would be a lot slower through traffic than your standard London cyclist as I don't need to filter that often up here so I'm not very good at it

 

[TheDoctor]

I think that cycling L'Arc de Triomphe might be INTERDIT maintenant.

You're right. I was cycling there a few months back and there was a sign diverting cyclists off the actual Arc roundabout thing. I did get to cycle the Champs Elysée, which is where I learned that Bromptons and cobbles are a less-than-ideal match.

I cycled in Paris in 2004 when I rode my loaded Brompton from Gare du Nord to Austerlitz to take the TGV to Biarritz and the Pyrenees. It's not for the faint hearted but it is fun providing you can dodge all les merdes. Once you are used to it, I should imagine it is far nicer than cycling in London or in any city of the UK.

I went from Gare de l'Est to Gare du Nord via the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and (nearly) the Arc. I had three hours to kill before the Eurostar. No real bother at all, other than the cobbles, and certainly more relaxed than cycling South London with Trinka of this parish. Having said that, I regularly cycle between Kings Cross and Paddington, and I still live to tell the tale.

I also drove around Paris a few times when I worked in la France for 2-3 years a few decades ago when they had their franc. So a lot may have changed ie Velib and new cycle paths. Don't attempt to cycle around the peripherique though. This would be certain death and hopefully the rossers would get to you before you were killed.

Bang on there!!! I don't even like driving round the peripherique. Anyone who tried to cycle it should be locked up for their own good, I'd have thought.