Safe suicide or a happy pleasure?

The traffic of Paris is notorious. Nevertheless, the city is well on the way to merging to the bicycle city. Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently announced, more To block 500 roads for car traffic and to green. 300 of the 6000 Paris roads are already car -free. This also includes the earlier expressways directly on the Seine. So what is it like to cycle through the French capital as a tourist? Safe suicide? Or a happy pleasure? A tour to the most important sights of the city.

In the past, the bus lane was often the only bike path in Paris

First of all: you have to be careful in city traffic. Otherwise you end up with your bike, such as at the beginning of Rue Saint-Antoine, easily on a bus lane, which used to be the only « bike path » here. The remnants of the labels on the road sometimes direct from the fact that there is now a real bike path on the other side of the street. In view of the many changes in the French capital, you can lose track.

The ambitious goals of the first bike funding program ten years ago sounded almost incredible for the suffering of Parisian cyclist. But that Traffic transition is consistently implemented with the participation of the citizens. For example, entire lanes were reserved for cyclists during the pandemic – and then retained.

The bike is considered the fastest means of transport in Paris

The bike is now considered the fastest means of transport in the city and is becoming increasingly popular with the Parisians. It is also more and more relaxed for visitors, the City by bike to discover. For example, on Rue Saint-Antoine, after you have managed to get rid of two bicycles from a bike station at the nearby, traffic remuneration Place de la Bastille, which is with the heavy, but
quick -switching keyboard can be a bit tricky. For that are these
Wheels available at any time and almost everywhere in the city and do not have to be returned to the starting point during business hours. Interruptions or the end of the tour are possible everywhere. The route has already been worked out at home. The goal: an uncomplicated and comfortable city tour to the big sights.

After about 250 meters it goes through the narrow Rue de Birague To the Place des Vosges. On the oldest place in the city, which was completed in 1612, which is largely filled out by a beautiful park, there is a calm, cheerful atmosphere. The visitors stroll relaxed through the courtyards and marvel at the art on the shop windows and the astronomical prices on the menu of a star restaurant.

On which his a wonderful view of Paris

Back on Rue Saint-Antoine, it will soon be important to turn left into the Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe. Right on the first cross street, it is worth taking a look at two medieval half -timbered houses (Rue François Miron 11 and 13). On the paved Louis-Philippe bridge, the view of the Île de la Cité with the towers of Nôtre lady in the background is waiting. The smaller Seine-Island Île Saint-Louis straight a look at classic Paris clichés-wonderful old lines of houses with floor-to-ceiling windows, tree-covered high Seine-Kais, the view over the river and sometimes also on the misery of the worst. The island – and behind Nôtre lady the larger Île de la Cité, the historical center, can be crossed quickly, but of course, as on the whole tour, detour and breaks would be possible here. After all, beautiful cafés are not in short supply in Paris. On the left side of the Seine there is a separate bike path with a view of the stands of the bouquinists and the cathedral in the background on the left side of the Seine next to the old Univiertel Latin.

Cycling the Louvre is convenient and safe

Due to the bustling of the tourists at the intersection to the Boulevard Saint-Michel, the Pont Neuf goes back to the right bank and then left to Rue de Rivoli, the continuation of the Rue Saint-Antoine from the beginning. Comfortable and secure in the middle of the royal backdrop next to the Louvre suggests what role the bike could play here in the future.

After a few hundred meters, a detour to the Place Vendôme is worthwhile. The calm, classicist place with a triumphal column of Napoleon is one of the highest corners of the city with the Ritz and the noble boutiques. Passing the Tuileria gardens, you now go along the huge Place de la Concorde. Where the Guillotine once stood during the French Revolution, tourists are now strolling. Those who do not continue quickly are asked by police officers. The environment of the United States embassy is strictly guarded.

Relaxed on the bike path on the Champs-Élysées

Turned to the right as quickly. On the bike path of the Champs-Élysées you follow the renown mile with a view of the triumphal arch and then cross them on the first cross street. On the wide Avenue Winston-Churchill you can get to Pont Alexandre III between the monumental glass palaces Grand Palais and Petit Palais.

On the magnificent bridge, a photo stop in front of the nearby Eiffel Tower in the background is worthwhile before continuing to the disability dome. There is a quiet bike path to the left. According to the building complex, it is important to stay on the right and to thread yourself through a quiet roundabout into the green areas of the Avenue de Breteuil, in the extension of the disability. Here it is quiet on this spring. You can tell that the 7th arrondissement is primarily a quarter of the diplomats and better circles. Here you can relax as a cyclist, you don’t have to pay attention to the traffic every second.

A mostly relaxed round tour through Paris

At the end of the green area, the route leads on the left on bike paths through narrower business roads back to the east, towards Jardin du Luxembourg. Shortly before the park, at the end of Rue Fleurus, a street café is ideal for a break. The in places literally trampled, well populated, but beautiful, old « garden » must be crossed on foot. On the lively boulevard Saint-Michel down to his it means again not accidentally taking the bus lane. It is also marked with bicycle symbols, but it is much more uncomfortable with buses and taxis in the neck than the separate new bike path on the left.

The Canal Saint-Martin can be reached via the Île Saint-Louis and Boulevard Morland. Behind the beautiful harbor you can already see the bastilla column, the end point of a rather stress -free bike round in the middle of Paris. On which you saw a lot more than if you had controlled every single sight with the subway. (with May)

Briefly informed

• Arrival The easiest way is to reach Paris by train. Partly special offers under www.bahn.de or https://www.sncf-connect.com/app/de-de/trips .

• overnight stay Relaxed hotel with bike rental, right on the Gare du Nord: 25hours-Hotel terminus north, DZ from approx. 280 euros, www.25hours-hotels.com/hotels/paris/terminus–North.

• Cycling in Paris A keyword search on the official tourism website delivers many cycling information www.parisjetaime.com/ger/
Velib’- Registration only by credit card, borrowing the easiest via smartphone with NFC function. Bike rental: www.parisavelo.fr Other providers see www.parisjetaime.com/ger/ The Passlib ‘also includes cycling offers for visitors

Felicitas Schwarz Grammon: Paris by bike. Experience the city from the bike. Dumont, 172 p. 14.95 euros.

The research took place at the invitation of the Office du Tourisme Paris.