PARIS: HERE ARE THE 10 MOST DANGEROUS PLACES TO CYCLE

 

The use of bicycles and scooters has exploded in Paris.[© Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP]

By CNEWS

Published on 02/24/2021 at 11:33 – 

Updated on 02/24/2021 at 11:33

Getting around by bike or scooter is sometimes an obstacle course in Paris, despite all the efforts of the Parisian municipality to regulate the practice and protect users. In fact, several sites are particularly dangerous in the capital.

For Jean-Sébastien Catier, president of the Paris en Selle cyclists’ association , “two factors” are at the origin of the dangerousness of the main Parisian roads for cyclists: “the lack of continuity between two axes” as well as ” the lack of development at intersections, where there is a lot of traffic.”

“Generally speaking, all undeveloped areas are dangerous […] as soon as cars can go fast, and as soon as there are blind spots, a visibility problem or even a speed differential between cars and cyclists,” he adds.

And these places are very numerous in Paris. When contacted, the Paris police headquarters did not wish to communicate on the number of accidents, nor on their exact location in Paris. CNEWS has listed ten of them, which are among the most dangerous spots, or perceived as such by cyclists. What are they ?

1.  THE CHÂTELET SQUARE

No matter where you come from, Place du Châtelet (1st) is difficult to access for cyclists. From the Quai de la Mégisserie, you have to take every risk to pass the bus lane and reach the bottom of Boulevard de Sébastopol or Rue de Rivoli. Same observation if you come from Avenue Victoria.

 

2. OPERA AND CHAUSSÉE D’ANTIN

A big downside for cyclists, Place de l’Opéra (9th) is devoid of cycle paths. Whether you come from avenue de l’Opéra, boulevard des Capucines or even boulevard Haussmann, no path or protected area is offered to cyclists, or users of scooters, who are often forced to cross in the middle of among the cars to go from one street to another.

 

3.  JERSEY HOLDER

Although Porte Maillot (17th) has been under construction for several months (which does not help the situation), the traffic problems for two-wheelers predate the RER Eole construction site. Because if there is a cycle path which connects Porte Maillot to Avenue des Ternes, via Boulevard Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, there is none between Porte Maillot and Neuilly-sur-Seine (92).

 

4.  ALMA MARCEAU

Now used by thousands of users every day, the Cours Albert 1er cycle path, right bank, undergoes a clear discontinuity at the Pont de l’Alma, and the Place de l’Alma-Marceau (8th). There, in the Concorde-Trocadéro direction, cyclists who are on the high quays of the Seine must join at their own risk the continuity of the track which is on Avenue de New York.

 

5. CONCORDE SQUARE

The only way to cross Place de la Concorde (8th) by bike or scooter without risking your life is to take the path – now bi-directional and closed to cars – which runs alongside the entrance to the Jardin des Tuileries. The only problem is that it is often blocked by the organization of events and other fashion shows.  

 

6. FROM MONTPARNASSE TO THE PLACE DU 18 JUNE 1940

There, at the bottom of Montparnasse station, from or towards rue de l’arrive or from or towards rue du Départ, the only way to take rue de Rennes (6th) is to cross the main square from June 18, 1940 to middle of cars. Also note that once on rue de Rennes, only a tiny cycle path demarcated by white markings connects Montparnasse to boulevard Saint-Germain (7th).

 

7. FROM TROCADÉRO TO THE GEORGES POMPIDOU WAY

Only users of the Voie Georges Pompidou cycle path (but there are many of them) identify this beautiful discontinuity. Below the Trocadéro gardens (16th), where there are no cycle paths, nor even dedicated bus lanes, you have to elbow your way to reach the Georges Pompidou Way below.

 

8. THE REPUBLIC SQUARE

Generally speaking, cyclists will always prefer to cross Place de la République in its center, rather than taking the lane reserved for cars. And this, even if the side alley, only reserved for buses and taxis for several years, allows you to go from Boulevard Magenta (10th) to Boulevard de la République (11th), and vice versa. The bulk of the danger is especially at the top of rue du Temple, once the cycle path ends.

 

9.  BY MARX DORMOY IN THE CHAPEL

To get to Porte de la Chapelle (18th) from Gare de l’Est (10th), the road is rather long but is not at all designed for cyclists and scooter users, who, most of the time, are forced to stay in the bus lane, including when crossing Rue Lafayette and Boulevard de la Chapelle.

 

10. ORLEANS DOOR

The last black spot in our selection, the Porte d’Orléans (14th) is devoid of any adapted and protected cycle path. There, to reach Montrouge (92) from Alésia (14th), cyclists must cross the tram tracks then the ring road bridge, taking the lanes reserved for buses when there are any.

 

PS: Note that most of these photos were taken before confinement. But if since then, some changes have been made to the road system, the problems of discontinuity and the dangerousness of certain places remain unchanged.