CYCLING IN TOWN

What?

Who never rode a bike during his/her early childhood? Come on! It was painful for sure at first, but then did you never felt the wind in your hair, do you remember this freedom feeling, this sensation that you will be able, in a few minute, to fly away?

Were not you proud of yourself when you finally succeed in taming the beast? Personally I was. We are not only talking about bicycle here, we are talking about changing the world thanks to your bicycle.

Why?

This last few years many were the policies to encourage people to leave the car at home for a bike. Depending the country you come from this phenomena is more or less important. Let's focusing on France and Germany.

Did you never noticed that German sidewalk were bicolor? One part is brown and the other one is red. As a tourist you maybe never paid attention if as me you stay during a few time. But then come this precise moment after getting almost crushed by a bike several times you finally understand that this color stand for a special reason, here is the bicycle path! If as me you are French, I understand your wonderment. Currently you can conclude that half of the sidewalk is so dedicate to the cyclists.

The infrastructure are a really important point to encourage people to ride a bike instead of taking the car. But as we saw there are not as develop in France and Germany. Nonetheless, dear French people you can breathe, more and more initiatives are taken this last few years to help facilitate cycling. Let's remind you that our website is make to help you to gather some information about the possible offer you have, on your own scale, to simply participate to the ecology. However, our offer should stay realistic without being so binding, while remaining totally secure for yourself. So please find attached the different situations you can face of and how to react :

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= Lucky you! You are allow to drive into the bus lane, bye bye traffic jam let's do it!

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= STOP! U-turn, it is not allow for you to be here! It could even be dangerous, this line could be reserved because of a limited space, it is maybe impossible for the bus driver to maneuver while keeping you safe. Avoid this risky situation!

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= A reminder to remind you that's is forbidden to drive here. No cyclist circulation here !

Ok, here the situation seems rather dark. Do not lose hope. Thank to the new regulation about Double Bicycle sense in the Decree 2008-754 of 30 July 2008 introduced into the Code the generalization of double cycling sense into 30km/h Zone (Z30) or into meeting areas (ZR), the bicycle traffic has been improved. The streets one-way car will become authorized two-way to bicycles, unless otherwise, as a conclusion, you should will be able to go anywhere in the city so, into the Z30 and ZR again, let's remind the signalization bellow for more security.

= Entrance and exit into the 30 km/h zone, where the double cycling sense is applicable.

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= One way street (for car), but double sense allow for you, cyclists!

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= Crossroad with a double cycling sense

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= optional route for cyclists

= no entry except cyclist

Where?

The bike is almost allow everywhere in the city as we saw just before. Nonetheless depending your country the rules related to the use of your bike could be pretty strict.

Not in the sidewalk...

In Germany for example if the bicycle path exist no way to drive in the side walk. You will risk a fine from 10 to 25 euros, and drive into the correct side walk, always on the right, or here again you will risk a fine from 15 to 30 euros.

This example might show you that you have to take care of the signalization and the applicable law into your country or the one your are visiting.

But as a conclusion, taking our two example country, in France you are free to ride your bike wherever it is not forbidden. You have to consider that you always have to ride your bike on the pavement rather than in the sidewalk which is not allowed, however the bicycle traffic is allowed on the sidewalks outside urban areas when it comes to a paved road or state of repair and condition of respecting the pace to not to meet pedestrian.

In Germany now, simply consider that you have to respect all the rules you would have follow by car, only on the cyclist scale. Did you know that being spotted by the police on a call or even send a sms is, since 1 April 2007, subject to a fine of 25 euros? Avoid also headphone or it will cost you 10 euros. Even more surprising, if a check revealed a BAC of 1.6 g / l of alcohol in the blood is liable to a driving ban or even withdrawal of the driving license, even by bike? If in addition you are involved in an accident, the penalty can be applied from a BAC of 0.3 g / l.

For who?

Student, workers, children, seniors, without limit of age or training requirement! Wait? You don't know how to ride a bike? No problem, thanks to the Wall Street Journal Chanel on YouTube, you will be able to realize your dream! Subscribe their channel here : http://bit.ly/14Q81Xy and consult the video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIsDrtPTTd8 (Photo: J Barbush/RPA)

French ? Since 2007 in Paris you can subscribe to velib' from 19 euros per months with the first half hour for free! For more information: http://www.velib.paris/Abonnements-tarifs

Tourist (or not) ? You can find here the map of the Paris cyclist path : https://api-site.paris.fr/images/72012

An another important rule is to check the status of your bike, to be sure that you are ready to bike.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Two brakes, front and rear.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]A yellow or white front light and a red rear light.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]A Buzzer

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Reflectors (retro-reflecting devices): red on the back, white front, orange on the sides and on the pedals.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Wearing a certified retroreflective vest for any rider (and passenger) flowing out of towns at night or when visibility is poor

Ecologic interest?

Without any doubt the interest of this initiative is immediate! Riding your bike instead using the car act directly on your own carbon footprint. The benefits for the environment are indisputable and could be identify on very short term process.

Some experiments are realized all around the world to encourage citizen to adopt this new means of transport. For example the experimenting with the mileage allowance, which was one of the 25 measures of the Action Plan "active mobility" presented in March 2014 took place from 1 June to 1 November 2014 and involved 8,000 employees in 18 companies volunteers. The employees received 0.25 euros net per kilometer. Finally It has doubled the number of bike practitioners in the participating companies.

Negative points :

- Insufficient arrangement

- Necessary change required when you are going to work

- Strong dependence on climatic requirement

Positive points :

- Absolutely no pollution, no carbon emission

- Avoid the traffic jam thanks to dedicated lanes : time saving

- Physical exercise and really strong muscle to conquer unexplored countries

- Earn money thanks to the mileage allowance which will be soon effective

- Aerate the head when everything is going wrong: take time to breathe [endif]·

Sources :

Official french government website : http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000019274295

German cycling : http://www.clever-radfahren.de/ http://www.mtb-biking.de/recht/bussgeld.htm Sustainable development french official website : http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/rapport_IK_nov_2013.pdf

French official study about mileage allowance : http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/2015_Janvier_-_Evaluation_ADEME_Indemnite_kilometrique_velo.pdf

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