On a bike, safety first

Favoring the bicycle rather than the car for short journeys allows you to reduce your ecological footprint and take care of your health. Nevertheless, bicycle safety rules are as important as for all your trips. So we wanted to remind you of them through this article.

We first listed the main traffic rules:

When buying your bike (electric or not), you must also think about useful equipment such as a retro-reflective yellow vest and ensure that the lights and the audible warning work properly, which are mandatory. In addition, for children under 12, the helmet is mandatory and must be properly fastened. We recommend wearing a helmet for all ages.

Headphones, audio headsets and the telephone in the hand are prohibited in order not to be distracted on the road, moreover the consumption of alcohol before taking your bike is prohibited and liable to a fine beyond 0.2 mg/l exhaled air.

To signal a change in trajectory to cars, bicycles and pedestrians on the road, it is recommended to turn your arm in the desired direction.

Read also: How to choose your VAE?

Do you mainly drive in town? These rules are made for you:

• Take the dedicated cycle paths or lanes and ride on the right side
• In the absence of cycle paths or lanes, drive on the right side of the roadway
• Only children under the age of 8 are allowed to ride on the sidewalk provided they drive at a reasonable pace and do not obstruct pedestrians
• Getting off your bike to take a pedestrian crossing
• Park your bike in reserved spaces or on the road
• Cyclists are allowed to ride on greenways, meeting areas or 30 zones, unless otherwise indicated
• In zones 30 and meeting zones, bicycles can circulate in both directions. The two-way allows you to benefit from better visibility, to avoid the main roads and to simplify the routes
• Be careful, in the big cities there are still multiple machines of different sizes. Delivery trucks and buses have blind spots, we advise you never to put yourself in this angle, especially when cornering. Serious accidents have been recorded linked to this blind spot.

Do you travel outside the cities? The rules adapt to this environment:

• Do not ride too close to the shoulder, to avoid ruts and gravel
• In bends, keep to the right as much as possible because the cars only see you at the last moment
• Be particularly careful when a truck passes: the draft may throw you off balance
• As a group, ride two abreast or in single file. At night, in the event of overtaking by a vehicle or when the circumstances require it (narrow road, etc.), place yourself systematically in single file;
• In groups of more than 10 people, split up.

As you will have understood, respecting the various safety rules for cycling allows you to share the roadway with other people in complete safety and to enjoy your bike trip in an optimal way.

All you have to do is enjoy your bike rides!

Source :

https://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/reglementation-liee-aux-modes-de-deplacements/velo/regles-de-circulation-pour-les-cyclistes