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Here are the 3 most dangerous intersections in Paris for cyclists

undefined undefined 19 novembre 2024 undefined 07h30

undefined undefined 21 novembre 2024 undefined 20h31

The Editor

Cycling in Paris, as pleasant as it can be (and really, in many ways, it is, we promise), is also a nearly constant source of danger. Between the state of the roads, motorized users, some rather reckless cyclists, and even the elements, there are quite a few causes of accidents, fairly spread throughout the capital. However, three intersections in particular gather a number of them, making places where cyclists need to be especially vigilant.


M the Cursed

Madeleine, Magenta, and Malesherbes. Here are the three black cats of the capital particularly singled out by seasoned cyclists at the start of this week. Three intersections located on the Right Bank, which all too often become the stage for incidents and, most importantly, accidents. The first, Madeleine is not a big surprise, as it’s where the dramatic incident occurred that cost the life of Paul Varry some time ago. According to the various associations present at the Paris police headquarters this Monday, the issue is curbs that are too low between the road and the bike lane, which makes it easier for motor vehicles to access the bike lane.

Boulevard Magenta has a bike lane located right on the sidewalk, which creates various problems. There are issues with space management involving pedestrians and a lack of visibility for cars trying to turn. These are the main concerns, especially at the intersection with Faubourg-Saint-Martin, where a pedestrian tragically lost their life in October 2021.

Finally, at Malesherbes, it’s the place du Général-Catroux that stands out as a nightmare for cycling enthusiasts. This area is where avenue de Villiers and boulevard Malesherbes intersect, two streets that are extremely busy, where the speed limit is only 50 km/h (and unlike the périph', this is not much of a restriction).not a good thing, without any traffic lights. Only right priority is in force, and this quickly turns into survival of the fittest during rush hour. And of course, all of this happens without any dedicated bike infrastructure.


An Increasingly Critical Situation

Unfortunately, these three M's are far from being the only critical places in Paris. For instance, we could mention Place Denfert-Rochereau, governed by similar laws to those referenced above in Malesherbes. There's also Boulevard des Capucines, Boulevard du Montparnasse, Rue de Cambronne, and Avenue du Maine. In total, 200 intersections and 25 major roads in Paris have been listed by cycling advocacy groups Paris en selle and Mieux se déplacer à bicyclette (MDB).

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