https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Cycle tourism is a large and growing market in France, and the beautiful Loire Valley with its famous wines and châteaux is a popular destination. Here are some tips for a successful trip. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251029/6-tips-for-a-bike-trip-along-frances-loire-valley Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:58:59 +0100 6-tips-for-a-bike-trip-along-frances-loire-valley Cyclists often run red lights in France, and some claim there is a special sign that allows them to do so. Here are the facts. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251023/mythbuster-are-cyclists-allowed-to-run-red-lights-in-france Thu, 23 Oct 2025 19:23:59 +0200 mythbuster-are-cyclists-allowed-to-run-red-lights-in-france French MPs have introduced a bill intended to increase road safety for cyclists - in part by codifying the definition of 'trottoir' (sidewalk or pavement) for the first time. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251021/france-to-legally-define-pavement-in-new-bicycle-safety-bill Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:47:02 +0200 france-to-legally-define-pavement-in-new-bicycle-safety-bill France has updated its Code de la Route to include new safety measures for cyclists, including banning flashing lights. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241217/france-brings-in-new-road-rules-for-cyclists Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:49:26 +0100 france-brings-in-new-road-rules-for-cyclists The full 3,320 km route for the 2025 Tour de France was unveiled on Tuesday, and for the first time in five years, the entire race will take place on French soil. Here is the map and the 21 stages of the race. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241029/map-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-tour-de-france-route-for-2025 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:53:02 +0100 map-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-tour-de-france-route-for-2025 The French government has announced plans to launch a road safety campaign, after a cyclist in Paris died after being run over by a motorist. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241022/following-death-of-cyclist-france-launches-campaign-against-road-violence Tue, 22 Oct 2024 12:10:44 +0200 following-death-of-cyclist-france-launches-campaign-against-road-violence Electric scooters and e-bicycles are an increasingly common sight on the streets of French towns and cities, but many users are unaware of the rules surrounding third-party insurance. Here is what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240905/do-i-need-to-be-insured-in-france-to-ride-an-electric-scooter-or-e-bike Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:14:16 +0200 do-i-need-to-be-insured-in-france-to-ride-an-electric-scooter-or-e-bike More people in France are turning to pedal power to get about on a day-to-day basis – but more still are reluctant to use their bicycles regularly over safety concerns on busy French roads. So, how can cyclists protect themselves – and what help is out there? https://www.thelocal.fr/20240605/velo-ecole-how-to-find-a-cycling-class-to-help-you-get-on-your-bike-in-france Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:19:23 +0200 velo-ecole-how-to-find-a-cycling-class-to-help-you-get-on-your-bike-in-france 'Mai à vélo' is a month-long, government-backed scheme intended to encourage people in France to choose cycling over other modes of transportation. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240416/why-you-should-take-up-cycling-in-france-in-may Tue, 16 Apr 2024 13:42:26 +0200 why-you-should-take-up-cycling-in-france-in-may The French government has announced it will continue offering grants to help with the cost of buying bicycles until at least 2027, and the financial assistance will be extended to used bikes as well. Here's how to qualify. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240108/what-you-need-to-know-about-frances-grants-for-buying-a-bike-in-2024 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 12:50:55 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-frances-grants-for-buying-a-bike-in-2024 In France, bicycles are also considered within the country's 'code de la route'. This means that there are several penalties you can incur if you fail to respect the rules. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240112/the-18-cycling-offences-in-france-that-could-see-you-fined Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:15:44 +0100 the-18-cycling-offences-in-france-that-could-see-you-fined High altitude, an Italian debut in Florence and a finale on the French Riviera are on the itinerary of the 3,492km route for the 2024 Tour de France unveiled on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231025/dazzling-finish-to-new-look-mens-tour-de-france-route Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:43:21 +0200 dazzling-finish-to-new-look-mens-tour-de-france-route Responding to an influx of bicycles on pedestrianised streets, a city in northern France has joined others in creating new rules to force cyclists walk their bikes in certain areas. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231016/french-cities-start-banning-bicycles-in-pedestrian-zones Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:58:11 +0200 french-cities-start-banning-bicycles-in-pedestrian-zones As the popularity of cycling soars in France, a growing number of companies are giving employees the chance to ditch driving in favour of a greener, healthier alternative: the company bike. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231004/forget-company-car-france-embraces-the-company-bike Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:01:15 +0200 forget-company-car-france-embraces-the-company-bike E-bicycles have some special rules compared to their non-electric counterparts. Here's what you need to know for riding an electric bicycle in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230929/what-are-the-rules-for-electric-bikes-in-france Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:57:01 +0200 what-are-the-rules-for-electric-bikes-in-france Travelling by bike and train are good ways to reduce your carbon footprint. But transporting you bike on a train can sometimes be a little complicated - especially in France where the rules vary from service to service. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230926/what-are-frances-rules-for-bringing-bikes-on-the-train Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:16:41 +0200 what-are-frances-rules-for-bringing-bikes-on-the-train As Paris increasingly reconfigures itself as a cycle-friendly city, the city hall has released a new 'code de la rue' to try and tackle the thorny issue of how cyclists, pedestrians, scooters and cars can share the streets. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230919/paris-introduces-new-street-code-to-help-cyclists-cars-and-pedestrians-share-the-roads Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:53:47 +0200 paris-introduces-new-street-code-to-help-cyclists-cars-and-pedestrians-share-the-roads Paris is a city made for walking but some streets and avenues and boulevards are better to see by bike. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170317/the-ten-streets-in-paris-you-just-have-to-cycle-down Fri, 17 Mar 2017 11:04:31 +0100 the-ten-streets-in-paris-you-just-have-to-cycle-down As Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo congratulates her team on the construction of 52 new bike lanes this summer, we take a look at how close the French capital is to achieving its ambition of becoming 100 percent cycle-friendly. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230906/latest-how-close-is-paris-to-its-goal-of-being-a-100-cycle-friendly-city Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:43:23 +0200 latest-how-close-is-paris-to-its-goal-of-being-a-100-cycle-friendly-city A new report by the French road safety observatory found that cycling-related deaths have been increasing in France in the last three years, particularly in rural parts of the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230207/aggressive-drivers-why-cycling-in-rural-france-is-becoming-more-dangerous Tue, 07 Feb 2023 13:02:41 +0100 aggressive-drivers-why-cycling-in-rural-france-is-becoming-more-dangerous