I used to take the subway in Paris. Now I ride a bike, carefully. I don't ignore traffic lights. And even riding this way I am always surprised that I'm faster than the subway. No connections, no wait, arriving directly at the exact destination helps.
Not to mention no need to stand in an overcrowded metal box.
If you are the only one crossing a street with your bike, good, if you are in a lane with hundreds other people, not great.
Paris has that problem with the subway, doesn't mean that the subway is slow, it is simply crowded.
Bikes also seem faster because they break every rule in traffic, stopping at the traffic light is mostly about biker's own safety, but skipping traffic lanes it's not permitted by any traffic regulation and yet every biker does it (every two wheeler actually).
This is what the average traffic light stop looks like where there are a lot of bikes or motorbikes.
Even in the presence of bike lanes, everyone tries to be in front, of course they are faster, they are literally cheating.
I would be the fastest in every line, if i could skip it and pass in front of everyone else.
Truth is other people would not like it, but we tolerate it for bikes (and motorbikes) for reasons I still don't fully comprehend.
Paris has one real feature: it's a greatly enjoyable city to walk and a terrible city for bikes (or cars)
So if you are in Paris, walk!
Nobody can steal your feet!
- As bicycling boomed in the French capital during the Covid pandemic, so has the number of stolen bikes.
- “This is the worst place for bikes, The mafia networks are organized to steal them. With everyone currently riding bikes in Paris, it’s become a simple and easy way for thieves to make a lot of money.”
peoplefromibiza|3 years ago
yeah, the subway in Paris is not great, but that's mainly because a lot of people use it.
one particular reason people feel they are fast using bikes is because a few people use them.
it's always underestimated by bike users how terrible bike jams are.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/resizer/2nIUJ2wOHIuaxiM6vvCL...
https://www.fastcompany.com/3052767/this-is-what-rush-hour-l...
If you are the only one crossing a street with your bike, good, if you are in a lane with hundreds other people, not great.
Paris has that problem with the subway, doesn't mean that the subway is slow, it is simply crowded.
Bikes also seem faster because they break every rule in traffic, stopping at the traffic light is mostly about biker's own safety, but skipping traffic lanes it's not permitted by any traffic regulation and yet every biker does it (every two wheeler actually).
This is what the average traffic light stop looks like where there are a lot of bikes or motorbikes.
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/crowd-motorbikes-stand-red-t...
https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/schema_org/pu...
Even in the presence of bike lanes, everyone tries to be in front, of course they are faster, they are literally cheating.
I would be the fastest in every line, if i could skip it and pass in front of everyone else.
Truth is other people would not like it, but we tolerate it for bikes (and motorbikes) for reasons I still don't fully comprehend.
Paris has one real feature: it's a greatly enjoyable city to walk and a terrible city for bikes (or cars)
So if you are in Paris, walk!
Nobody can steal your feet!
- As bicycling boomed in the French capital during the Covid pandemic, so has the number of stolen bikes.
- “This is the worst place for bikes, The mafia networks are organized to steal them. With everyone currently riding bikes in Paris, it’s become a simple and easy way for thieves to make a lot of money.”