PARISIANS AND BICYCLE

                                        

 

PARISIANS AND BICYCLE

The humble bicycle has been a part of life in France for decades. The expanses of gorgeous countryside and mountain regions have numerous bicycle trails that are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike, for exercise, day trips, and tours of the country.

The City of Lights or Paris has a large network of bicycle lanes, and new lanes are constantly being added in various districts of the capital. Designed specifically to allow people to get around Paris safely by bicycle, the lanes are marked out using white lines, signs and bicycle symbols. Paris has improved immeasurably for cyclists during the last 10 years. There are bike paths and bike signs all over the place and some areas – including almost the entire length of the Seine riverfront – are completely segregated from car. With a massive investment in cycling infrastructure, the city of Paris is set to become one of the top bicycle-friendly cities on the planet. I am told that bicycling development has something like budgetary allocation. The investment in bicycling has increased from 150 million to 250 million euros for the next five years. The government aims to build upon the current level of 1,000 km of bike lanes, 300 km of cycle tracks, and 52km of provisional tracks as well as more than 30,000 parking stands with 1,000 spaces reserved for cargo bikes and 40,000 new secure cycle parking spaces. Other highlights include 2,400 electric charging stations on the road and 6,000 underground, as well as 10 fast-charging hubs.

I came to know that in France, the government also organises bicycle-related events where one can see crowds cheering the participants. The Paris Tourism Office (29 rue de Rivoli, 4th) has free maps of the bike lanes. Their website offers some suggested scenic routes for visitors and cycling tips. The Vélib' Métropole bicycle service, introduced by the City of Paris, provides self-service mechanical (green) and electric (blue) bikes for the public to hire. During my stay in Paris, I learnt some French words connected with bicycling like velo means a bicycle, casque means a helmet, piste cyclable means a bike lane, anti vol means an anti-theft lock and panier means a basket.

According to the New York Times, around 1 million people are riding their bikes in Paris daily. For tourists, cycling offers a multitude of opportunities to discover the City of Light differently. Some of the routes frequented by tourists in Paris are:-

1 From Paris to Versailles

2 Paris and its canals, from Bastille to La Villette

3 Paris along the Seine

4 From Paris to the Marne River

5 From the Arc de Triomphe to the Père-Lachaise cemetery

                                             

I was also told about the Paris Respire Scheme started by the government. Under this scheme, certain roads are made automobile-free on Sundays and public holidays from 9 am to 5 pm allowing bicycles and pedestrians free movement. This has also helped in the reduction of pollution. The roads covered under this scheme include those by the River Seine, in the Marais, the Canal Saint Martin, and Montmartre as well as some others falling in busy localities.

In Paris, I saw people bicycling to London in groups. The students, tourists, artists, farmers, university professors, teachers, professionals, traders and anyone and almost everyone owns a bicycle. I saw happy tourists and many Parisians cycling with helmets on the bicycle tracks. A college teacher in Paris told me this:-

" I go for my cycling on Saturdays and Sundays. I love it. You are moving with people. Smiling, communicating and looking at everything around you with complete control over your speed and direction. You get a feel of the ground and area through which you move. Unlike a car or train that keeps you shut up inside. Joy and momentum are with you as you move. And then there are almost no expenses for this joy. There is no fuel cost to this happy ride. I'm fitter and healthier than I've ever been in my life – and I owe that to cycling. As I have improved over the years my training has taught me discipline and focus and I take this attitude into my day job and life. And listen to what is latest; cycling has some of the same effects as some anti-anxiety medications. As soon as you get on the saddle and start your ride, endorphins – which are your body's natural painkiller – are released in your brain."

Can we give the bicycle a similar push over here in India .

( Avtar Mota )

 

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