VIDEO. “Yeah, but cyclists control the lights”… really?

BIKLOU, EPISODE 21 – A group of pedestrians timidly approaches the pedestrian crossing connecting the Forum des Halles and the Pompidou Center on Sevastopol Boulevard. Suddenly a woman in pink runs in, pedaling her Velib, determined to get through at any cost and shouting, “Sorry!” » to better slip between pedestrians, even despite the red light. Pointing at a pedestrian signal, a passerby who is nearly jostled shouts to the cyclist: “We’re on the green line!” “. Atmosphere.

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“They tire us cyclists.”

In Paris, similar clashes occur every day during rush hour on roads heavily traveled by cyclists, such as the Rue de Rivoli or the Boulevard Sebastopol, where up to 18,000 cyclists pass a day. “This is a disaster because we won’t be able to get through and we might get crushed. They don’t really respect anything,” Elliott laments, a bag slung on his back.

This CM2 student also survived the Sevastopol Boulevard collision. “I come from a rural area and it’s pretty tough here. It’s disappointing to cross there,” adds Anita, her grandmother.

Pedestrians aren’t the only ones condemning these cycling offences: “They bore us cyclists. They are overflowing everywhere, from right to left. We have to be ten times more vigilant,” worries Tony, a delivery driver busy scanning a stack of boxes. “One day this could end badly.” Because we’re driving a truck, we can’t see what’s going on in our blind spots.” “I’m very afraid of hitting a cyclist,” laments Jean-Pierre, also a courier.

+180% of offenses recorded by the police

Since the end of quarantine, the number of trips by bicycle has increased by 60%. Cyclists are more visible, as are some of their most common violations: running a red light, riding the sidewalk at full speed, ignoring crosswalks, or holding a cell phone on the handlebars. Deviation from the law is punishable by a fine of 11 to 135 euros without deduction of driving license points.

Police operations are intensifying to punish such offenses: “Currently, the priority of the police prefect is to strengthen control over the capital,” notes Captain Marc, head of the 2nd road company of the Paris police prefecture.

And there are fines on bike paths, especially for wearing headphones on the handlebars. “We are seeing a fairly significant increase in registered offenses, which is approximately 180%,” explains the policeman.

The Road Safety Authority has just launched a major prevention campaign to try to stop the rise in crashes involving cyclists.

Across France, the number of bicycle accidents increased by 60% in July and August compared to 2019, even if this increase cannot but be correlated with the arrival of large numbers of new cyclists on the bitumen.

“Cyclists don’t commit more offenses than others.”

Olivier Schneider, president of the French Cyclist Federation (FUB), laments the harmful consequences of the behavior of “a few crazy people” who are willing to go to extreme lengths “to save a few seconds” of the ride. “I send them a message of responsibility. […] Respect pedestrians and follow the rules whenever possible.”

But no recent large-scale study allows us to accurately estimate the scale of offending while cycling. “Cyclists do not commit more offenses than others. They perform different actions,” explains Olivier Schneider and clarifies that “certain behavior is interpreted as a violation, even if it is permitted by common sense and the Rules of the Road.”

Traffic rules have already been adapted for cyclists

This ardent bicycle advocate laments a lack of knowledge regarding some of the Code’s relaxed rules for bicycles: “Streets in one direction are generally cleared for cyclists in both directions.” Many red traffic lights can also be passed by giving way if there is an M12 triangular sign at the intersection and there is no one ahead.

Moreover, without a sign, some intersections are so dangerous that some cyclists may have to pass through them, regardless of the priority rules: in fact, this is a life-saver,” explains Olivier Schneider.

The association is calling for more cyclist-friendly streets to end this daily tension: “We must design infrastructure with as few waits and detours as possible. And there, I guarantee you, relations with pedestrians or motorists, and even between cyclists, will improve.”

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