Let's go for a bike ride in Paris

Paris introduced the Vélib' bike system in 2007 and by most accounts, it's been a success. Drivers took a bit of time to get used to cyclists on the road but the system immediately added thousands of bikes to the roads. I never cycled before the introduction of the system but last year I began riding and now tend to get out every day or close to it. Because of time constraints (related to daylight) I do most of my riding in the city during the week.

This is a pretty accurate video of what I see almost every day. Drivers often turn right without looking for bikes coming through bike lanes and for me, that led to one collision that sent me onto the door of the car. I've had other drivers cut me off and pin me into parked cars and then chase me when I yelled. The bikes are not completely without fault as riders often ignore the rules of the road and pretend as though there's a magic bubble surrounding them. Good luck with that strategy.

The video is in French but it's easy enough to follow. Yes, Paris has come a long way for cyclists but there's a reason why it didn't make this "top ten" list. Until the police start fining illegally parked cars and bad drivers, cyclists will continue to suffer. The good news is that there are plans to make more bike lanes but the police really need to crack down on drivers.

It's the weekend, so I'm riding out of town where no cars are allowed.