Will the de-confinement following the Covid 19 pandemic be the trigger for widespread use of bicycles in Paris, France and other major cities around the world?
Paris Bike Tour sincerely believes and hopes that this will be the case. To that end, we're going to put our entire fleet bikes, normally dedicated to our guided tours, to hire of comfortable mechanical and electric bicycles.
There will also be special rental offers for company employees. In addition, training courses and events will be offered, supervised by professionals with a passion for cycling.
But this idea of cycling cities, which still seemed to be’utopia yesterday, is about to become a reality in several of the world's major cities. First and foremost, you'll need to avoid crowded public transport and therefore respect the safety measures in force. social distancing. At the same time, however, we want to regain physical activity after weeks of confinement. This will also help to combat air pollution suspected of exacerbating the risks associated with the coronavirus according to several studies , including Harvard University researchers.
GOVERNMENT PROJECTS :
With this in mind, the French government has launched a mission to promote cycling once the lockdown is lifted. Pierre Serne, the ecologist in charge of developing the post-confinement mission, has publicly stated :«There will be a collective rejection of public transport. If we don't want to take the metro, bus or coach to work for fear of contagion, we'll have to be able to get around.« .
But major roads reserved for cars should be transformed into temporary cycle lanes, with dividers or road markings.
These cycle paths already have a name: the Coronapists.
This is what the Mayor of Paris had to say, Last week, Anne Hidalgo publicly stated :
«I'm planning to temporarily develop routes above the busiest metro lines, so that people who feel safer cycling can get around easily. In concrete terms, we want to double lines 1, 4 and 13 with above-ground cycle networks on the same routes».».
And on the other, the President of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse clearly wishes to commit to a region-wide cycling plan. To achieve this, the President of the Region is going to mobilise 300 million euros to speed up the creation of a regional cycle network already in the pipeline, the «RER-vélo". She also states: «It would be possible to increase the number of people cycling every day from 400,000 to 800,000.
THE VIEWS OF CYCLING ASSOCIATIONS:
For Associations such as the Vélo IDF collective, the FUB and Vélorution are even going so far as to talk about a historic moment for cycling.. Stein Van Oosteren of the Vélo Île-de-France collective a récemment declared : « it This is a historic moment for cycling. These temporary escape routes are an exceptional opportunity to reorganise the area, giving cyclists space and safety. »A historic opportunity to do in a few months what we've always wanted to do. which, under normal circumstances, would have taken years or perhaps could never have been envisaged».»
The general idea seems to be to develop the whole of Paris and the surrounding area. With this in mind, before mid-May, the suburbs will see the appearance of new cycle lanes..
To optimise these new facilities, cities are working closely with cycling and user associations. Cycle lanes on national roads could even be created. Pierre Serne, an ecologist and former vice-chairman of the «Villes et territoires cyclables» network, has been appointed by the Minister for Transport to co-ordinate and oversee the development of new cycle paths. identify the best initiatives to encourage cycling in the Ile-de-France region from 11 May and beyond. He said: «The state is prepared to consider a number of national roads where a lane would be reserved over a certain distance for cycle traffic. The idea is not to limit ourselves to city centres.
You will find here a range of information to help you get around more and breathe easier by bike
Finally, a few figures clearly demonstrate that the alternative to cycling for short, regular journeys is entirely possible. The solution would come more from a change in mentality combined with political and personal will, than from exceptional physical ability.
SOME KEY FIGURES
-40% of car journeys in conurbations are less than 3km
-93 % of the French commute to and from work. - Work, alone in their car, for a distance of generally less than 7km.
-70% of greenhouse gases are represented by journeys between home and work
-80 million hours are lost every year in traffic jams
According to Barometer of everyday mobility published in January 2020 pr the FNH the French would be who want to take up cycling. Nearly 50 % of them indiquent they would be prepared to make their daily journeys using this mode of transport. This financial year, which has already shown its potential ats strikes dn the month of December 2019, could well be even more enthusiastic by the post-crisis context coronavirus.
THE POST-CONTAINMENT SOLUTION :
Paris Bike Tour - Hire of mechanical and electric bicycles for businesses, local authorities and individuals
Our cycles have been selected for their comfort and reliability
All comfort accessories are supplied: helmet, basket, padlock, etc.
For more information, please contact us directly :
Mail : reservation@parisbiketour.net
Tel : 09 72 47 42 10
Note that second-hand bicycles, entirely revised, These will also be available at our Paris 3 branch.
Reading moment :
We suggest this excellent book by Frédéric Heran: «The return of the bicycle»
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75003 Paris
(+33) 1 42 74 22 14
info@parisbiketour.net
(+33) 9 72 47 42 10
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