Planning a holiday in Paris and want to explore the city of Lights on bike?
Here are some tips to make it a fun and safe experience:
1. First and foremost, if you rent a Paris Vélib bike, ALWAYS check the tyres and chain. There is nothing more frustrating than hopping on only to find that your bike is missing vital parts.
2. If at night, it’s not a bad idea to sport something bright in order to make yourself seen by cars…the bikes do have lights but you can never be too careful.
3. That evening chill which seems to often descend on Paris can leave you with painfully numb hands when cycling-gloves are a must in winter.
4. Motorbikes have no mercy. They too like to weave their way through the stationary lines of traffic and it is often difficult to spot them-watch out, they too appear out of nowhere.
5. Beware of knocking wing-mirrors, surprisingly easy when trying to squeeze through that narrow space, and it does NOT go down well.
6. Always allow enough time to cool down post-cycle, especially if going somewhere special. Walking into a restaurant or bar resembling a crumpled heap, shaky and overheating, is never a good look.
7. If when arriving at your destination you find the Vélib station full, be patient. With the one way streets in Paris trying to get to the next one, only to find the same problem, will be a nightmare and you’ll end up miles from the place you were headed. Give it time and someone will take a bike soon enough, allowing you to take their space.
8. Our ‘cycle lane’ is in fact the taxi lane, and they are not too happy about sharing it. Don’t be alarmed if they are not hugely friendly, its part of their charm.
Photo of Parisian on Vélib bike originally posted by Hugo*
Topic: Tips and Ideas |
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Tags: Paris, transportation
About the author
Emilie is a Bristol University student, studying French and Italian. She is currently working for Elle magazine in Paris, before heading to Milan. She loves spending time with her friends, cooking and getting lost in Paris.
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