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Our tips for biking at night in Paris

undefined undefined 30 novembre 2025 undefined 12h00

The Editor

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It's here, even if winter isn't officially with us yet, it certainly feels that way. It's cold, it's snowing, and night falls earlier and earlier. And while the thought of Christmas arriving brings us joy, the idea of being plunged into darkness at 5 PM is a little less exciting. Especially since it brings some challenges, particularly for the many cyclists in Paris.

We're not going to give you a recap, for a few years now, the bicycle has exploded in the streets of the capital, you know the tune. But you'll also understand why it’s essential to talk about it, and to share some good advice in light of a practice that’s becoming increasingly important, and especially at the heart of many debates. And since we don't claim to have the solution to the user conflict on the roads, we prefer to stick to our area of expertise and offer a few tips to make life easier for cyclists who remain loyal to their bicycles despite the winter conditions.


Be Visible

It may seem obvious, but sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to reinforce the basics. Because the most important thing when cycling, to ensure everyone's safety, is to be seen. And this is perfect, since now...There are plenty of solutions. First off, some of them are now mandatory to have, like the reflectors on the front and back, as well as on the wheels and pedals, but also the front (white) and rear (red) position lights. With all of that, you’re already off to a great start! You can also consider adding stop lights on a vest or helmet, along with turn signals. But be careful not to go overboard; extremely bright and flashing lights at the front of your bike can be distracting for other users, and that can be dangerous!


Being Equipped

Once we can be seen, we think of ourselves. To do this, we equip ourselves for our well-being AND our safety. When it comes to safety, it’s pretty simple; we don’t hesitate to wear a helmet, and maybe even add a yellow vest or reflective bracelets, especially if we’re wearing dark clothing. Now, for comfort, it’s quite straightforward. At night, in winter, in Paris, it’s cold. Very cold. So we think about gloves, a beanie, a scarf, a balaclava… In short, all those little things that make us feel more comfortable and allow us to focus on what’s happening in front of us rather than our poor left pinky toe, which is threatening to fall off with every pedal stroke because it’s frozen.


Be Flexible

We all know that riding a bike at night is definitely not the same as pedaling during the day. So to avoid any hassles, we don’t hesitate to adapt. For that, we might change our route, for example, favoring well-lit main streets over dark little alleys. Similarly, we think about adjusting our speed to have more time to react to less visible dangers, but also because the road tends to be slipperier when it’s wet (thanks to snow or rain), or covered with fallen leaves (thanks to autumn). Finally, to avoid any troubles, we keep our loved ones updated about our route, our expected arrival time, and so on. 


Be Sober

We started this list with an obvious point, and we're wrapping it up with another one, the circle is complete. Indeed, just a few months ago, we shared our frustration about the growing trend of coming home drunk on a bike. It's already a time when visibility is low, and the concentration of drivers might not be at its best, and if we throw in the alcohol factor, that's where things go south. So at night, especially in winter, and particularly if you've had a little too much to drink, don't hesitate to choose the metro (if it's still running), the night bus, or even a rideshare or a taxi. At least it's warm, it's comfy, and you won't risk hurting others or yourself!