Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks, and trying to see them all can be tricky if you are pushed for time, so Mirror writer Niamh Kirk toured the iconic city by bike to see as many spots as possible
The French capital has become one of the best cities for cycling, and with so many sights to see, travelling on a bike around may be your best bet.
There’s no denying the roads are pretty busy, and the Metro gives the London Underground a run for it’s money when it comes to trying to work out, so I decided to hop on a bike and tour the city myself. Packing the itinerary with some of the world’s most famous landmarks, I knew I had a lot to cover in one day.
One good thing about Paris is how many cycle lanes they have put in, making it much safer than hopping on a Lime bike in London and hoping you don’t get run over.
It’s also an ideal way to burn off your croissants from breakfast, and work up an appetite for a Parisian lunch. I tracked my cycle on my new Huawei GT 6 watch (£229), a fitness watch that specialises in cycling, so I could map out my route with the GPS, track my distance, heart rate and time on the road.
Paris is expanding it’s network of protected bike lanes and these lanes are physically separated from cars which makes it a great feature for safety, especially for children. Paris now has protected cycling routes stretching across nearly half (48%) of its road network, however I quickly learnt there are a few rules to follow on the road.
For starters, there are two lanes, and for me, naively, I thought they were both going in the same direction, but I quickly found out I was wrong. They are lanes for both directions rather than a ‘fast’ lane for pro bikers, and ‘slow’ lane for more casual riders like myself.
After being shouted at by an angry Parisian man dressed to the nines in his lycra cycling gear, and not a clue what he was saying, I figured out I needed to stay in my lane.
I managed to squeeze in many landmarks during my cycle, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Church of Saint-Sulpice, Dome des Invalides, and even stopped off for a much needed rest and picnic in the The Luxembourg Gardens.
In total I cycled 12.85km, and I feel like this was the most efficient way of packing in lots of sights if you are only in the city for a few days, making it easier than walking and much easier than grabbing a cab.
And after a long day of cycling and sightseeing, I treated myself to a large glass of wine and a sit down in the sun.
Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com
