On September 11, the Regional Cycling Forum was held, an institutional event for consultation between elected officials and user associations. On that occasion, the best bike path in Île-de-France was chosen! Just a stone’s throw from Paris, between Saint-Mandé and the Château de Vincennes, the bike path on Avenue de Paris has just won the region’s “best cycling infrastructure” award.
This bike path is the best in the region
The route stretches 1.7 kilometers, between the Paris city limits and the Château de Vincennes metro station. What makes it special? It’s four meters wide, which allows cyclists to ride in both directions, and—most importantly—it’s physically separated from car traffic. Along the path, a parking lane acts as a barrier against motor vehicle traffic, while a 50-centimeter curb protects cyclists from car doors that might open suddenly.
When it opened in 2020, the bike path was temporary and part of the infrastructure installed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the section saw 2,300 riders per day in 2022, a safety issue was identified, particularly regarding coexistence with motorists.
As a result, the Val-de-Marne region carried out construction work and completely redesigned the road layout, creating a permanent two-way bike path, reorganizing vehicle traffic, and improving pedestrian crossings. To date, the work is still not complete. Nevertheless, the route has still won the title of best bike path in Île-de-France.
Built as part of the expansion of the Vélo Île-de-France network, this bike path is one of 350 kilometers of developed routes. By 2030, there should be 750 such routes throughout the region.