Consider this my preliminary photo reportage of my weekend in Paris. A few observations to boot:
Cycle sophistication is in the details.
Parisians prefer it slow, too.
Cycling in Paris indeed equals liberté, égalité, fraternité
You’ll also see proof of that in my upcoming Bicycle TV episode, featuring Tiago, my cycle friend and guide last Saturday. Stay tuned!
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Just an Amsterdam native who won't take his city and its cycling extravaganza for granted anymore, thinking these posts might be clues to others, inspiration perhaps, if you will...
Maria Gatti added these cyclelicious words on August 11, 2008 |Permalink
C’est merveilleux!
Not that the heart and soul of Paris has changed, but it looks as if the process of Amsterdamization/Copenhagenization is well under way! The last time I cycled in Paris was around the time of the big civil service/public sector strike - people got bicycles out, out of necessity, and many kept on cycling - but there wasn’t the infrastructures or a bicycle-friendly local council.
I’d returned to Paris several times since, but never had the occasion to bicycle - was attending conferences, and mostly just walked or took public transport. Parisian workers who are able to get to their jobs by bicycle will arrive so much happier than those crushed together in the métro during rush hour! (The métro is wonderful, but oversaturated).
Is the third photo Rue de Rivoli? (a big shopping street)
I hope the cycle paths will be extended out into la proche banlieue. Guess people who live farther out in Ile-de-France and take commuter trains can hire a Vél’lib once in Paris.
This is a wonderful achievement for slow, urban cycling culture and for the environment!
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