Biking in Paris

Paris seems to be ahead of many cities in North America, especially when it comes to transit and bicycle use.. To be sure, the city is totally crowded with cars and motorcycles, and the broad boulevards (sidewalks) that Hausemann had laid out have been taken over by bicycle lanes and parking spaces so that the pedestrian zone is in many places quite narrow. And what’s the logic behind closing streets to traffic to make pedestrian-friendly zones, but still letting scooters and motorcycles in? But one of the new innovations is a bicycle exchange. Throughout the city, strategically placed in high-traffic areas, are bicycles for public use. People sign up and get a pass card (I don’t know what the fees are), and this gives them access to bicycles at any of the bicycle stands. Each stand has maybe 20 or more bikes, and they are securely locked to their posts, until you free it with your card. The bikes are quite unique in style and make. I’m assuming that when you’re finished with the bike, you return it to any of the bicycle stands. You see people on these bikes all over the city. And riding a bike in Paris takes some nerve!