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Cyclists allowed to ride the wrong way down one way streets in Paris!

Riding a bicycle in Paris is already a risky business; whether it is the unawareness of motorists or the sharing of cycle lanes with taxis and buses.

This surprising photograph shows the recent initiative of the Mayor of Paris, with a view to ease traffic issues on major roads, to allow bicycles to go the wrong way down one way streets.

This initiative, shared with other cities including Nantes, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Lille, is seen as a response to the huge increase in the numbers of cyclists in France. Public cycle schemes and increasing traffic congestion has encouraged more people to switch to pedal power.

This Parisian scheme is part of the aim of the Mayor of Paris to increase the number of cycle lanes in Paris to 700 kilometres by the end of 2010. This currently stands at 440 kilometres. The 'Bike Plan' is also looking to improve existing cycle lanes, improving road signals, increasing cycle parking areas as well as a focus on public awareness on bicycle users.

More than 1000 roads with a 30km speed limit in 65 areas of Paris will install this scheme. Given the low speed limit this is expected to reduce the number of accidents involving cyclists on the larger main roads around Paris.

The French political party UMP will review the results of this initiative in 2011 to see if this is deemed to be a safe method of cycling around Paris.

Watch this space!

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