hd-20250428-0053

Bikes: the number of cyclists keeps skyrocketing in Paris!

undefined undefined 18 septembre 2025 undefined 17h00

The Editor

© Hugo Dominguez / Le Bonbon

Anne Hidalgo was celebrating just a few days ago: there has never been as many bicycles on the streets of the capital as there are this 2025 back-to-school season. It's a phenomenon that's becoming more and more prominent, raising some issues.

One might have thought it was just a trend, but in recent months, the numbers reported from the 29 bike counters in the capital tell a different story. Not only is biking now everywhere, but it's here to stay! It’s a lasting trend that even broke records this September 2025. While we’re thrilled to see people getting active and thinking about the planet, this new obsession has a double-edged sword.

A Growing Enthusiasm

Last June, the number of cyclists on the capital's paths surprised many with its sheer magnitude. It was an unexpected count, especially at this time of year, when the number of bikes typically increases in the fall. Thankfully, the month of September was filled with...surpassed its reputation, with simply astonishing numbers. As we recently read on the Instagram account of the Mayor of Paris, 4 major bike lanes in the capital have broken their attendance records. We’re seeing over 25,000 cyclists on the Sébastopol boulevard, 22,000 on the Palaise boulevard, 15,550 at the Saint-Michel boulevard, and 15,000 on the Clichy avenue.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Anne Hidalgo (@annehidalgo)

A Mixed Blessing for Biking

However, the rise of little queens on the streets of Paris inevitably brings with it a number of questions and issues. First and foremost, and no one can deny this, the disregard for traffic rules among many cyclists. Similarly, dangerous situations are becoming more common, sometimes leading to tragic incidents.

Finally, this overcrowding leads to a deterioration of facilities and bike paths, including those that have been recently constructed. For example, we can mention the Boulevard Sébastopol, which is only a few years old but is already facing saturation. The same issue arises on the Boulevard Magenta, where the bike path is also located on the sidewalk. The Paris City Hall has assured that they want to do everything possible to provide safe facilities and adapt things for a better sharing of the road.

Measures in Place

To tackle these challenges, the Paris City Hall is determined to multiply actions to make life easier for everyone. This involves the development of kilometers...of bike paths, but also by the recent development of an action plan pointing out the most dangerous intersections and avenues in the capital. A study recently submitted to the Ministry of Transport also suggests increasing penalties, both for cars and bikes, as well as carrying out awareness campaigns. One thing is certain: while biking continues to attract more and more people, there is still a long way to go to make the bicycle the leading mode of transport in the capital, safely!