Thursday, February 24, 2011

New bike Lanes


Paris is not Amsterdam, but there is no doubt that there are more and more bikes in our streets. And not only because of the Velib experiment (which is actually more than an experiment now!), but also because more and more Parisians own a bike. To protect them, there are now new bike lanes, like this one. But if you pay attention you'll see that these lanes are in the opposite way of the car traffic! Now, all one way streets have a bike lane like this. Which is a bit puzzling at first, of course ;-)

11 comments:

  1. When I did a bike tour of Paris , I found the Parisians very respectful of us in the bike lane. I though, am still shaking over the fact that they road us throughConcorde. That is a place I won't even cross on foot.

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  2. Thanks for sharing about Paris. I am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and new to CDP and find it quite interesting to see about cities through daily photo posting.

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  3. You know I love the perspective of this shot! If I lived there . . . I mean . . . WHEN I live there, I'll definitely get around by bike—but I'll avoid Place de la Concorde (PHX, you're a brave woman).

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  4. Hmmm , good idea but is there enough room for a car AND a bike coming through the other way? Many streets are going to present a challenge, I think.

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  5. Biking in Paris is definitely not for the faint of heart! I'm with Alexa...Place de la Concorde is difficult enough on foot. Thanks for the shot, Eric. The symbol is clean, attractive and easily visible, don't you think?!?!?

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  6. PHX, Alexa, having crossed Place de la Condorde by bicycle several times in my life, I can tell you that it is quite easier and less frightful than crossing Place de L'Etoile (other end of the Champs-Elysées!)...

    Fot that matter, the Rue de Tilsitt and rue de Presbourg, which are turning aroung Place de l'Etoile, are usually called "Rue des Lâches", i.e. Cowards Street ;-)

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  7. Thanks for that I was just trying to get movivated to get on my bike and here it is motivation I need on PDP .

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  8. LOL I don't know if I'd like to see traffic coming at me or not. Here in the States, you ride with traffic, obeying the same rules and staying over in the right 3 feet of the lane. But I can't imagine riding in a crowded city like Paris! Maybe someday I'll be brave.

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  9. Paris is not Amsterdam...Thank God!

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  10. I love to vélib through Paris, but I prefer to do it in the late evening when the streets are quiet.

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  11. the recent conversions on one way streets... extremely dangerous...have lived in Paris for 10 years..bicycle sole means of transport..not enough room..motorcycles coming from opposite direction INTO the bike lane.. my advice and that of all my bike-riding friends..;stick to the "usual" bike lanes...I am posting a story on these one-wayers today on iReports CNN...take care..Yadray..Lawrence Langner

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