Under Anne Hidalgo – mayor for 12 years until last week – the French capital added bike lanes, cut traffic and reclaimed public space, but not without resistance
bikes and electric scooters are not supposed to be ridden on the sidewalk
They are not supposed but they do.
Same thing in France. I also live and Paris and don’t really know what the other commenter is talking about
Since I have no stats or pictures to share, for anyone else reading French wanting to have an idea “what I’m talking about”, here are a few of the results I was served searching for “Paris accidents velo et trotinettes”, in no particular order. BTW, I have not read all of those articles I just want to make it clear I’m not imagining things like the previous comment seems to imply (sorry for the lack of layout, I made it real quick):
“The number of cyclists in the streets of the capital has exploded since the Covid epidemic. Cycle paths have sprung up, the space and speed of cars have been reduced, but pedestrians are now wary of bicycles and scooters that run red lights and ride on sidewalks.” France 24 the original French: “Le nombre de cyclistes a explosé dans les rues de la capitale depuis l’épidémie de Covid. Les pistes cyclables ont fleuri, la place et la vitesse des voitures ont été réduites mais les piétons se méfient maintenant des vélos et trottinettes qui grillent les priorités, montent sur les trottoirs.”
“The trial of the nurse who fatally struck a 32-year-old woman with her scooter in 2021 before fleeing the scene opens on Thursday, March 20. Her name was Miriam, she was Italian, and she worked as a waitress in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Paris). On June 14, 2021, she collided with another young woman, a nurse riding a shared electric scooter. The latter was traveling too fast, in a prohibited lane, and with a passenger. The scooter struck a group of pedestrians. Miriam died after falling.” France Info, the roginal French: “Le procès de l’infirmière qui avait en 2021 mortellement percuté à trottinette une jeune femme de 32 ans, avant de prendre la fuite, s’ouvre jeudi 20 mars. Elle se prénommait Miriam, était italienne et serveuse à Saint-Germain-des-Près (Paris). Le 14 juin 2021, sa route a croisé celle d’une autre jeune femme, une infirmière circulant sur une trottinette électrique en libre-service. Celle-ci roulait trop vire, sur une voie interdite et avec un passager. La trottinette a percuté un groupe de piétons. Miriam est décédée après avoir chuté.”
““The decision to ban electric scooters didn’t come out of nowhere. It stems from several observations that have stirred the city in recent months. Safety was the top priority. The number of collisions and falls involving these vehicles has skyrocketed, turning some roads into obstacle courses. Added to this is chronic urban disorder, fueled by scooters abandoned anywhere and everywhere, blocking strollers, wheelchairs, and hurried pedestrians. Insecurity has taken hold, exacerbated by the disregard for rules and the increase in risky behavior.” Why Paris is saying no to free-access electric scooters which is explaing what Paris put a ban on rental electric scooters “La décision de bannir les trottinettes électriques ne sort pas de nulle part. Son origine tient à plusieurs constats qui ont agité la ville ces derniers mois. Avant tout, la sécurité a été placée en tête de liste. Le nombre de collisions et de chutes impliquant ces véhicules a bondi, transformant certains axes en parcours d’obstacles. À cela s’ajoute un désordre urbain chronique, alimenté par des engins abandonnés n’importe où, bloquant poussettes, fauteuils roulants et passants pressés. L’insécurité s’est installée, attisée par le non-respect des règles et la multiplication des comportements à risque. »
And btw, “abandonned” (rental) bikes (abandonned in the middle of the sidewalks, or even at the entrance/exit of a crosswalk) are another issue on their own.
All I’m saying is that this behavior (and I insist the issue pedestrians are most concerned with is with electrical, not with actual bike users: they already have enough trouble dealing with cars) is a real danger and should notbe tolerated or minimized. Even if we like bikes more than cars.
The only places I regularly see bikes on the sidewalk are those where the road infrastructure makes it too dangerous to ride a bike on a street
So, it’s ok to make it “too dangerous” for pedestrians instead? Not my logic, but as a pedestrian I’m obviously biased.
Also, keep in mind the code makes it clear it is ok to push a bike on sidewalk, that does not make it OK to ride it. Even less so when it’s an electrical one, which makes it go so much faster.
They are not supposed but they do.
Since I have no stats or pictures to share, for anyone else reading French wanting to have an idea “what I’m talking about”, here are a few of the results I was served searching for “Paris accidents velo et trotinettes”, in no particular order. BTW, I have not read all of those articles I just want to make it clear I’m not imagining things like the previous comment seems to imply (sorry for the lack of layout, I made it real quick):
And btw, “abandonned” (rental) bikes (abandonned in the middle of the sidewalks, or even at the entrance/exit of a crosswalk) are another issue on their own.
All I’m saying is that this behavior (and I insist the issue pedestrians are most concerned with is with electrical, not with actual bike users: they already have enough trouble dealing with cars) is a real danger and should notbe tolerated or minimized. Even if we like bikes more than cars.
So, it’s ok to make it “too dangerous” for pedestrians instead? Not my logic, but as a pedestrian I’m obviously biased.
Also, keep in mind the code makes it clear it is ok to push a bike on sidewalk, that does not make it OK to ride it. Even less so when it’s an electrical one, which makes it go so much faster.