Half of Paris will be car-free Sunday, September 25, for a “Day without cars XXL”, the second of its kind organized by the town hall. It will take place from 11h to 18h on 45% of the Paris region, a territory “five times bigger” in 2015 and will cover the 20 districts of the capital.
650 km of roads will therefore be closed to traffic, except authorized vehicles as public transport, emergency vehicles, taxis or delivery of which the speed will be limited to 20 km / h.
On the occasion of this car-free day in the capital, the HuffPost gives you a series of tips and recommendations before you safely to discover in the article header in video and in the text below:
Question 1: “When do I start?”
When you feel! The best thing is to start during the school holidays: motorists in safety vest leaving the city to the countryside. August is the perfect time. But if you do not want to wait, do not wait!
Question 2: “But it’s not dangerous?”
Statistically speaking, the rider of cities is less danger that the cyclist fields – cars drive faster on the county in a congested street. But that does not mean there is zero risk.
The important thing is to BE SEEN. Start with the essential: Night lights. If you want to push the vice until the yellow vest (mandatory outside cities) and clothing with reflective material, enjoy!
Question 3: “How can I do to avoid the danger on the road?”
First, know that the danger No. 1 for the rider is the blind spot. Obviously, it is larger for buses and trucks than for cars (besides, buses sometimes have to make some large maneuvers to turn … Be careful not to get stuck!)
First tip: Do so stay forever beside a vehicle! At a red light, try to go back to the bike lock. At least if you turn left, no one will cut your way. If the light turns green before you’ve reached the goal, you put between two cars. So you see that in front of you and one behind you sees. Remember that many motorists turning right to forget their flashing. So beware.
Second tip: Are you saying. Feel free to roll in the middle of the road if it is to avoid a door that could be opened. On the road, the priority goes to the most vulnerable, whether a car honks you: you think above all to your security.
But for a peaceful relationship with other road users, have to know your intentions. And if you cannot be seen, be heard: make your trumpet bell. But beware: pedestrians are sometimes jumps the wrong side of the bike path (in your wheel what) after a “ring ring”. Do so use at low speed and if the pedestrian really prevents you from moving. You can let go by against you on motorists parked on the bike path.
Question 4: “And for those who do not see me?”
Use your eyes and your ears. And yes, your ears: the advantage of not being surrounded by a steel frame. You already do unconsciously when you’re walking, does it more consciously when you are cycling.
Question 5: “Do I have to follow all the time the bike path?”
You will see for yourself that it is often a haven of peace, away from traffic lights and exhaust pipes. Alas, it is often not respected by some motorists who take a different path parking … So basically: you cannot.
However, avoid as much as possible to the sidewalk. Pedestrians are friends. They are more fragile than us, so they have priority over us, respect their territory.
Above all, the bike path is not always the friend of cyclists. On a roundabout, for example, you can be sure you cut the road at each junction you do not want to take if you follow the little bikes designed ground outside the roundabout.
Question 6: “I do not get how to do transpiring at work?”
The bike is sports-it also perhaps one of the reasons why you want there so yes, your muscles will be heated. In general, cover less than if you were on foot. In winter, keep your reflective jacket in goose feathers purchased in Canada. In the spring, put a jacket you can easily remove it when your muscles are warm. In summer … think of your sunscreen.
In winter, think above all to your feet and hands are the first to suffer from the cold. Equip yourself gloves and warm socks. And for rainy periods … invest in a rain cape!
Question 7: “How can you not make me steal my bike?”
If you buy your own animal, check with your favorite bike dealer. But the U-lock is often the most recommended. Anyway, forget the pigtail padlock. At night, make sleep your bicycle in an enclosed area: cellar, shed, parking … In addition, it will be protected from rain.
Finally, remember that if your bike is worth its weight in peanuts, a thief the longing always find a way to get the steal (with a big clip for example). The alternative can be to make your bike … ugly.