Cycling in Paris - General information
Thousands of people cycle in Paris every day, so don’t be afraid!! With over 1,000 kilometres of cycle paths, Paris has risen to the top of the list of Europe’s most cycle-friendly cities. Riding through the city is one of the best ways to discover it, but we do have a few recommendations:
*Be careful when cycling, as traffic is sometimes chaotic. Bicycle lanes are often shared with buses. Dedicated lanes also exist, but sometimes they run against the flow of traffic, while others are located on sidewalks. A useful tip: look for the word “vélo” (French for “bicycle”) on signs or painted on the ground.
*Bicycle lanes are sometimes narrow. If you’re in a busy area, avoid stopping in the middle of the lane as another bicycle might run into you. Instead, move toward the side of the lane to stop.
*Watch out for people opening car doors without checking or for pedestrians wandering. Be especially careful near bus stops located along the bicycle lanes as people who are waiting for their bus don’t always pay attention to bicycles.
*Respect red lights and be careful when you move on through an intersection using the « bicycle dedicated yielding sign ». The sign below allows bicycles to proceed at a red light in the direction indicated by the arrow but the cyclists do not have the priority.
*Remember that when there is no sign on the road, priority is given to the vehicle coming from the right.
*Note that lights are mandatory on a bike : white front light, red rear lights and yellow/orange reflective devices on the sides of the wheels. A bell is also mandatory.
*Wearing a helmet is not mandatory for adults, but bring your own if you prefer to use one. A high-visibility vest is not required in urban areas, though it is also recommended.
*When cycling, it is prohibited to be under the influence of alcohol, to wear headphones (other than hearing aids) or to hold a mobile phone in your hand
*Beside Vélib’, if you rent a bicycle, you have to park at dedicated parking spots (more than 5 loops/bars), not on sidewalks.
The city of Paris has made great efforts to promote the use of bicycles inside the city of Paris. It is actually really nice to ride around the city that way. You have several options to do so, from shared bike or e-bike services to private renting companies. In most of the cases, a deposit is necessary.
If you want to know more, you might be interested in the following links:
[https://www.velib-metropole.fr/]
[https://ridedott.com/fr/il-est-enfin-arrive-decouvrez-le-velo-electrique-dott/]