cycling across paris? (gare du nord to gare d'austerlitz)

[jehersey]

Does anyone have experience of cycling across paris? We're heading to south west france after arriving in Paris on the eurostar and need to cycle across to Gare d'Austerlitz.

If anyone knows roughly how long it might take, and if there are any cycle routes it would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Jane.

[Lawrie9]

You will arrive at Gare Du Nord and the Gare du Austerlitz is fairly central. A few minute walk if I remember.

[jehersey]

I don't think it is just a few minutes walk, it's the other side of the Seine, so at least 3 miles I think. Any info on cycle routes or maps would be helpful.

Cheers

[skiddie]

You're right that it's more than a few minutes' walk, but it shouldn't be any problem on the bike as Paris is pretty cycle-able. For a map of bike routes, go here and scroll down to the downloadable pdf under the heading "Les pistes cyclables parisiennes".

If you go via the Bastille (follow the large boulevards-- Magenta, Beaumarchais, I think) you shouldn't have too much trouble.

[jehersey]

thanks! that map is really useful. I just wasn't sure how easy some of the roads would be to cycle down, didn't want to be braving the main routes as we'll be there round rush hour! it looks like it'll be fine.

[skiddie]

In Paris, bikes and buses share lanes on most big boulevards, with bikes often having their own dedicated lights. On the really big boulevards, and smaller roads there are usually some sort of dedicated bike lane. As it will be summer when you're there, presumably there won't be too much traffic and there will be a lot of bikes.

[peter236uk]

Hi how far would it be to cycle from Paris Nord to Paris monparnasse thanks

[jehersey]

looks like it would be about 5 miles. I used www.multimap.com

Put in gare de paris nord to gare de paris montparnasse.

http://www.multimap.com/directions/?qs_ ... 34818|13|4

[skiddie]

If you look at Via Michelin, you can search for routes that are amenable to bikes.

[nirakaro]

Nice cycling in Paris - I found the biggest hazard was dozy pedestrians wandering into the bike lanes!

[cedd]

Hi.

I am interested in doing this. Any chance you can tell me how you found it?

Thanks

Cedd

[jehersey]

Hi
yes I went back to that link and it no longer works. However, i've found the map I used here:

http://www.parisavelo.net/export.php - Version actuelle (PDF) or the jpg version.

We did the cycle route and it was absolutely fine. Especially in August when Paris is quiet! I think the most straight forward way is to get onto the route that runs alongside Canal St Martin and Bd. Richard Lenoir. Those pink lines mean routes that are pretty much separate from traffic along that route - they run alongside a wide boulevard and have a raised pavement separating you. We found it all quite easy.

There's also a load of stuff about cycling in Paris here: http://www.paris.fr/portail/loisirs/Por ... ge_id=9071 but it's in French. I couldn't find the same info on the english version of the website.

Hope that helps
Cheers
Jane.

[Bernard]

Via Michelin says 22 minutes.

See the detail on the map.

http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Itinerair ... eConso=5.6

If you can, avoid cycling 17h 18h, before 10h in the morning it’s the best.

[boink]

I had the same journey a couple of weeks back and decided as we had time, to fit in as much sightseeing as possible in 5 hours or so. Worst part was pedalling up to the Arche de Triomphe with diesel fumes in our faces all the way up. Felt like we were aliens with our helmets on as Parisiens are too stylish to wear them (or any cycle gear). I'd allow 40 minutes going direct to Gare du Nord and hope you don't get pestered by as many beggars as we did.

http://www.medmen.org.uk/

[Ivor Tingting]

Does anyone have experience of cycling across paris? We're heading to south west france after arriving in Paris on the eurostar and need to cycle across to Gare d'Austerlitz.

If anyone knows roughly how long it might take, and if there are any cycle routes it would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Jane.

Are you catching a TGV to the SW eg Bordeaux or Biarritz? When do you travel?

I did the said same journey several years ago prior to the masssive expansion in cycling and bike hire scheme in Paris. I arrived by Eurostar into Gare Du Nord then cycled across Paris (Brompton) to catch a TGV from Austerlitz, iirc, down to Biarritz. Seeing numerous TGVs in the station ready to go places always gets my pulse going. They put the British train network to shame. Anyway it took me about 15-20 minutes to cycle from GdN to Austerlitz at a fairly sedate pace. Although I wouldn't want any less than a 45 minute window in the schedule to allow for delays, but probably allow more time if you have bikes to collect or check-in on either train.

I took in a few of the sights as well up the Champs Elysee, quite steep, around the Arc de Triomphe and down to and under the Eifel Tower through the gardens and on to Gare D'Austerlitz. Cycling in Paris is a lot safer and more enjoyable than London IMHO. It's a straight forward ride. I would get hold of a decent street map of Paris and plan your own route IMHO. It really is that easy. Just watch out for the merde when you step back onto the pavements .

Bon voyage.