French Law

Not the most catchy of titles. Anyway, just looking at all the "rider down" threads made me think of how we could improve the safety of cyclists in the UK. As I understand, in French law a motorist is liable for any accident involving a ped or a cyclist. Their insurer has to pay compensation regardless of the circumstances, simply on the basis that the motorist should exercise special care when driving a potentially lethal machine.

Sounds good. A car is indeed a lethal machine, far more than any bicycle could be, and people should take more responsibility and care whilst operating one.

The French law you mention was voted in 1985.

There were talks about having the same here in 2002, not sure what happened next but will continue my search.

I really find it hard to understand that as you lie on the ground you need to find 2 witnesses to prove that you were knocked down. Just weird.....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/aug/04/politics.transport

Tour de France V Tour of Britain........In which country does the cycle have more status?.....is part of the nation's psyche????.....The UK....is a car country....with the likes......Jeremy fascist bastard Clarkson.......perhaps in future in the UK, cyclists will need 4 witnesses to prove you were knocked....not weird....just sadly predictable......not enough votes in the issue!

But the cycling bandwagon is getting up to speed like a newbie on a brakeless fixed gear going down a steep hill. I reckon in a few years there will be a big pro-cycling vote.

France is cool, I was out the other day and found a cycle lane that ran alongside the route nationale out of Paris, I was thinking about that young french student killed on the A23 the other day, her and her friends probably just had no idea. Having said that most cycling lanes are waste of time they typically more dangerous so I ain't particularly looking foward to a movement that will force me to wear a helmet and poodle along at five miles an hour behind some old granny in the compulsory cycle line. However if it does come about perhaps I can be the cycling Clarkson..;)

France isn't always so cool. try to ride a bike in the heart of southern cities such as my hometown Toulouse... ppl drive fast there (despite speeding limits :D). i was once one of those drivers! also, cycling lanes are not the norm in many streets and you will have to share small roads with motorists.
however, it is true that a motorist involved in an accident with a cyclist or a ped will be liable. that is indeed v cool :)

I was in paris with my lady friend last week. We took our bikes over on the eurostar so they could have a holiday too... the main thing noticed was that it was so much less aggressive on the roads, no shouting matches even in rush hour, even the cabbies seemed courteous to cyclists. I saw this one weird moment where a cyclist needed to cross a lane in a larger road to turn left, he slowed to let a taxi get passed him, motioning for him to go, but the taxi did the same, and they sat there for a minute "you go" - "no you go" - "no i insist, you go"...etc and then both moved off smiling! Wtf? Then within 5 mins of cycling home when I got back into london i was calling someone a cunt. Sad.

three things which make cycling not so inspirational in our country:

1. weather

2. bike prices

3. governments bad attitudes towards anything that takes a bit of effort that you don't gain financial return from, greedy bastards.

I was in paris with my lady friend last week. We took our bikes over on the eurostar so they could have a holiday too... the main thing noticed was that it was so much less aggressive on the roads, no shouting matches even in rush hour, even the cabbies seemed courteous to cyclists. I saw this one weird moment where a cyclist needed to cross a lane in a larger road to turn left, he slowed to let a taxi get passed him, motioning for him to go, but the taxi did the same, and they sat there for a minute "you go" - "no you go" - "no i insist, you go"...etc and then both moved off smiling! Wtf? Then within 5 mins of cycling home when I got back into london i was calling someone a cunt. Sad.

was you wearing rose tinted glasses? I am always getting into a 2 and 8 with the cabbies on Rue de Rivoli as they bang down the bus lane

was you wearing rose tinted glasses? I am always getting into a 2 and 8 with the cabbies on Rue de Rivoli as they bang down the bus lane

Well yes, being on 'holiday' i was seeing everything in rather a happy light. Still, three days of riding around quite a bit and didn't see any aggro. Didn't see any (other) riders going for it very much, they all seemed to be tootling along on chunky mtbs or velibs. I guess if you don't ride hard you don't have such an issue with anyone blocking your way.
Loved the smooth roads tho. Apart from the cobbles of course, but I just pretended i was doing the paris-roubaix and htfu'd on those bits ;)

Well yes, being on 'holiday' i was seeing everything in rather a happy light. Still, three days of riding around quite a bit and didn't see any aggro. Didn't see any (other) riders going for it very much, they all seemed to be tootling along on chunky mtbs or velibs. I guess if you don't ride hard you don't have such an issue with anyone blocking your way.
Loved the smooth roads tho. Apart from the cobbles of course, but I just pretended i was doing the paris-roubaix and htfu'd on those bits ;)

I ride hard and I use all the bus lane which is why the taxi drivers get moody with me but really they ain't supposed to be in the bus lanes then if you don't ride in the bus lanes they get all moody because you are not in the rudy bus lane so I have had enough of them and I coat them off forcing them to go slow as to them velibs well they are a damn right menace and there are too many bloody traffic lights having said that Paris is a beautiful city to ride in and police are a hell of alot more chilled out than in London which is tres cool