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The immediate thought of pedaling a bicycle around the frenzied streets of the heart of Paris sounds insane. It´s not. It´s as safe as walking, and is a lot faster. Biking liberates you to cover distances more quickly while allowing you to travel streets that are impossible in an automobile. And you can park your bike almost anywhere! Bike-tour operators in Paris work hard to ensure the safety of participants. They offer well-maintained bicycles, encourage the use of helmets, (which are not required by law but are recommended), and present lessons in which they familiarize participants with the bikes. And there is safety in numbers: a few cyclists riding together have a noticeable presence on the streets, which accords them all the needed respect. The guides know Paris by heart. They live in the Paris area and have biked the city so many times! They comment on the historical sites, stop for good photos, can tell you just anything on neighborhood characteristics. Normally, a tour covers about 10 miles in about 3 to 4 hours. There are three tour companies who specialize in English commentary: Paris Bike, Paris Velo and Paris a Velo. Each company has a variety of interesting itineraries which include pedaling by some of the more renowned sites such at the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral, with forays into areas along the St-Martin canal or up to the Butte aux Cailles. Routes avoid heavy traffic on main thoroughfares. As you cycle along these "backroads", you gain an insider´s peek into the homes of the Parisians; you see where they shop; where the kids play; where they walk their dogs; where they go to market; and where they stroll and chat with others on warm summer evenings. |
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