Travelling naturally - by bike, on roller blades, on foot

It's a fact that's impossible to ignore: the bicycle has taken over in Paris. Whether it's a question of climbing onto the saddle of a bike rented for the day from one of the capital's cycle rental companies, or picking up one of the 20,600 self-service Vélib cycles from its automatic station, there are no excuses any more for not exploring the 371 kilometres of the Paris urban cycling network.
This non-motorized way of getting around is proving to be popular with Parisians and tourists alike (since Vélib’ became available, 56 million journeys have taken place).

It offers the simplicity of going from place to place above ground, the pleasure of an activity undertaken in the open air, allowing the face of the capital to be discovered, and the peace of mind of knowing that you are using a non-polluting means of transport.

Between now and 2013, the plan is to extend the network to close to 600 kilometres of cycle lanes! Since 2010, the capital’s wooded parks (Vincennes and Boulogne) also have Vélib stations.

To celebrate the fun of getting around the Vélib way, the 15-kilometre ‘Vélibienne’ trek for fans of the Parisian bike was inaugurated in September; in connection with the ‘green’ individual transport event, the ‘Journées du vélo et des mobilités électriques’.

Some districts usually reserved for motor vehicle traffic are even transformed at weekends into routes for more natural modes of transport (bicycles, but also roller skates/blades) and for pedestrians as part of the ‘Paris respire’ scheme, which takes place on tracks on the banks of the Seine, or in districts such as Montmartre or the Saint-Martin canal.

Download a map of recommended cycling routes at www.paris.fr

© Philophoto

More info ? 

Vélib in all districts of Paris - www.velib.fr

www.deplacements.paris.fr

www.du-nouveau-pour-les-beaux-jours.paris.fr