You think driving a bicycle in Paris is like being sentenced to death? Wrong! First of all Parisian drive much more slowly than before. Second, there are now 314 kilometers of bicycle paths inside Paris and a lot of temporary operations to stop traffic on some streets (especially in the center) on Sundays and public holidays. Third, renting a bike is easy and you can even take part in a bike tour that a couple of associations organize throughout the year (more info here - in French, sorry). Update: here's more info in English. Merci Steverino!
How about Amsterdam? Now, they really use their bicycles!
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally, I just bought a new bike today!
ReplyDeleteEric, I agree with you about bicycling in Paris. We had the MOST FUN EVER on two bike tours (one at night and one during the day) with Fat Tire Bikes (they meet at the south pier of the Tour Eiffel. It gave us a quck orientation to how to best get around the city, and the English speaking ride guides were great to be with. What amazed us, coming from the land of mondo litigation was that NO ONE wore a helmet and it wasn't required by the bike shop people. They explained French law holds one rides at one's own risk.
ReplyDeleteHey, are we on a similar vibe today? I also posted a bicycle related photo today. . . .must be something in the air,
-Kim
I think I better take the metro Eric. I would still get run over on a bike! LOL
ReplyDeleteEric, you are indeed a most gracious host. I enjoy all of your photos and narratives very much, but most of all, I enjoy seeing your radiant smile.
ReplyDeleteHere is the english url on the url that eric referred to about bike trails, etc. in Pari.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.v1.paris.fr/en/Living/cycle_tracks/default.ASP
Since I bike daily around Chicago, I can't wait to experience Paris on two wheels.
Steve in sunny cool Chicago
So Eric, are those your bikes you used? I thought yours had a motor attached!
ReplyDeleteIt's a very good idea to go around Paris on a bike. I never thought about it. And renting one must be much cheaper than using the metro.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep it in mind the next time I go to France.
edulabbe, I doubt it's cheaper than the metro, but the sights and smells are MUCH better I guarantee you that!
ReplyDeleteBiking Paris sounds wonderful! Michael, I'm sure the smells are much better than that metro. Ha!
ReplyDeleteIt's just too hot to ride a bike here in Vegas in the Summer!
Christy (LVDP)
I thought about doing the bike ride last time but then my companion was not good at it. I ended up doing a bike ride in Versailles, which was great and memorable.
ReplyDeletemy husband at Singapore Daily Photo also posted about bikes today! personally, i'd like to see more bike friendly cities =)
ReplyDeleteOK, I believe you - but I still wouldn't want to try it. When in your city I much prefer walking (often, it has to be admitted, from bar to bar). I'll save my cycling for really flat cities and countries.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try this new perspective of Paris, even though I think you can get the most if there's a Parisian guiding you rather than trying to figure out everything by yourself..
ReplyDeleteParis by bike: wonderful idea!
ReplyDelete:)
Many friends rent bikes in Paris during the summer for getting around, but for "daydreamers" like myself or "Chronic Flaneurs" I wouldn't recommend it...SPLATTT..[the sound of me getting hit by a bus]...also, I don't know what all the fuss is about the smells of the Metro..LOL!! The smell of the disinfectant in the Metro is something I always remember about Paris, much better than the smell of urine on the buses in San Francisco!! Another lovely photo Eric!!
ReplyDeleteBuzzgirl, you did? Congrats and don't forget to lock that thing now! :-) Wanna ride together sometime? I got one collecting dust in storage, how pathetic is that.
ReplyDeleteAbout biking in Paris... it's starting to look like an option. Delanoe (Paris Mayor) sure is doing a good job getting rid of cars in the City!
I'd love to cycle round paris, there's so much to see its a really sensible option. Nice shot.
ReplyDeleteI always rode a bicycle when I was in Paris. Had to sell it when I moved to the States (Dutch bike, wouldn't have found the spare parts here), but when I went back to Paris for an assignment, I rented one with the RATP in Les Halles (the monthly rates are incredibly cheap compared to Carte Orange, and the service is great).
ReplyDeleteIt's indeed the best way to see Paris -- its beauty, scenery, and passing seasons. It's fast, free, and you get great butt muscles!
Nice post, Eric -- brought a lot of nostalgia for my hometown.
The bicycle is the best way to discover just about anywhere... not just Paris. Riding a bike is the perfect antidote to the frustrations of traffic and the polluting wastefull automobile.
ReplyDeleteLong live the bicycle!
No day is complete without a bicycle ride.
I live in an exceptionally bike-UNFRIENDLY city! Am always intrigued by the elegant, well-dressed parisiennes biking around, their skirts hitched to show some stockinged thigh...designer handbag in a basket over the handlebars.
ReplyDeleteGreat Shot! Here in Southern California we unfortunately rely on our cars but we have many bike trails and bike friendly parks.
ReplyDeleteHey Rodney,
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Orange County, I didn't own a car until my final year of college. It was 7 miles from my house to the university, and my only hills were two freeway overpasses.
-Kim
I love riding my bike Paris. I use it every opportunity. I keep it the outer lobby of our building in the 7th.
ReplyDeleteOf course at first all the residents compalined but after a few months others followed suite and now the lobby is choc a bloc with bikes and no one complains so thats a trend in the right direction.