Cyclists are expected to observe the rules of the road, even though it seems many locals in cars ignore them. It's worth remembering, however, that the police are empowered to hand out stiff fines for infractions. If you're lucky, you may escape with a warning the first time round. Otherwise it may not be worth the risk. Ignoring a red light can cost you 900F. Riding on the sidewalk is illegal and subject to a 230F fine, except for children under eight years old. Similarly, cycling the wrong direction on one-way streets is prohibited. And cycling in segregated bus lanes is illegal unless otherwise indicated. In places where the road is wide enough, bike lanes are often incorporated with bus lanes, but in such cases the bike lane is clearly marked. The city has promised to convert more bus lanes for bike use. In general, the highway code requires cyclists to ride on the right side of the road. The code also requires motorists to drive at least a meter away from cyclists. To the chagrin of many cycling advocates, bicycles are not currently allowed on the Métro, except on line one, between Château de Vincennes and La Défense, until 4:30pm on Sundays. RER trains on lines A and B accept bikes everyday except weekday rush hours (6:30-9am and 4:30-7pm). TGV trains do not accept bikes but most other SNCF trains do, though some trains require you to put the bike in a bag. All bicycles should be equipped with two brakes and a warning bell or horn. For riding after dark, front and rear lights are obligatory, along with red reflectors in the rear and a white reflectors up front, plus orange reflectors on the pedals. Unlike many places in North America, wearing a helmet is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended by the police. |
