Five riders, one city, two wheels
Five views on cycling in Paris: routes, hidden spots, cargo bikes, gear picks and road journals — from family adventures to filmmaker rides
A weekend in Paris with a family of four, bikes from Vélab delivered straight to the hotel. From the phone call to the delivery, from the route tips to the children's smiles along the Canal Saint-Martin: the real, unfiltered test.
From balance bike to first independent rides, Henri D. offers a step-by-step guide by age group for Parisian families. The best parks and safe circuits, teaching methods, and how to prepare the first big family cycling outing.
Helmets are only compulsory for under-12s, lights are required at night, and there's no legal requirement for a lock — Sophie K. cuts through the confusion around French cycling law and reviews the equipment that genuinely makes a difference, with budgets for every rider profile.
Paris in spring reserves its finest moments for cyclists who rise early or venture out at golden hour. Five themed rides to capture raking light on the Seine, in Montmartre and the Marais, with tips on filming from the bike.
Metro, RER, Transilien, Vélib' and Véligo: combined intelligently, they make Paris one of Europe's most cycle-friendly cities for long commutes. Sophie K. maps out every option for combining cycling with public transport in the French capital.
Front-loader or longtail for getting around Paris with children and shopping? A detailed comparison across 8 criteria — agility, payload, price, parking, safety — with testimonials from Parisian families and a recommendation table by usage profile.
Paris has dozens of lawns, but which ones are truly accessible by bike, with cycle parking and space to spread out? A rundown of the 8 best spots, from Vincennes to Saint-Cloud, with a comparison table, food tips and recommendations for families with cargo bikes.
The Bièvre was buried under Paris in 1912, but its course still exists. From the boulevard de l'Hôpital to Jouy-en-Josas, this 28-kilometre route traces the phantom river through the history of tanners, dyers and mills, following a waterway that is slowly coming back to life.
From La Villette to the Meaux locks, the Ourcq Canal offers 62 kilometres of almost unbroken cycle path, free of traffic and nearly flat. A little-known and magnificent route heading east from Paris, through waterside bars, industrial heritage sites and the wet meadows of Seine-et-Marne.
Cargo bike or trailer? After six episodes, here is our final verdict: four Parisian family profiles, four concrete recommendations, the questions to ask before visiting a dealer, and resources to get started without getting it wrong.
Certified seat, rain cab, legal lighting, proper lock: kitting out a family cargo bike demands careful choices. A guide to the accessories worth buying — and the ones you'll regret.
Does electric assist really change the equation for a Parisian family? Real range figures with two children on board, the realities of flat charging, and a three-year cost breakdown — plus the models that have genuinely proved their worth.