Was cycling one of those small access roads that straddle the very large main roads. There was a wall between that and the main road. A police van and fire engine were blocking the road, and it was cordoned off with tape. I went on the pavement, very slowly, walking pace. But the municipal police stopped me and asked for my passport. I didnt know what was going on so I just gave it to them, I should have said I dont have it with me. So they fined me. I dont really know the rules in paris, I asked them but they didnt explain them to me. My travel companion did the exact same thing as me, but wasnt fined. I feel like it was entrapment a little bit. Also, it took a while, so I smoked a cigarette, knowing this policeman was an arse I knew better than to toss the butt on the floor. But I had to put the thing out on the floor rather than my own bare skin, and the bastard tried to fine me for that even as a was putting the butt in mp pannier pocket.
I have a really long and complicated address through living in a tower block in london, and the guy seemed to struggle with logging it and it seemed like he eventually gave up on his third attempt to write it, as I spelled it very fast trying to blur as much detail in my accent, he said I have your name thats enough. So hopefully I dont even receive the fine. But I think I am considering not paying it, since im not french, and that guy was an arsehole.
Has anyone been fined in france? is it the kind of thing that will make it difficult to come back here if I dont pay it?
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You will have to understand that in a new country there are different rules and different ways of enforcing them. Also I think French cops have much lower patience with English, British, Canadian, Australian, and American tourists that tend to play fast and loose with the rules. Like in some parts of the US, cops won’t look twice if you have a pistol on you, whereas in UK and Europe you will immediately be stopped and questioned.
Since your buddy didn’t get fined and you did, chances are your attitude and manners got you the fine more than the act.
I’ve gotten pulled over for speeding and other infractions, but I’m pleasant and friendly with the cop; most of the time they let me go with a warning. You want to be an entitled butthead when you break the law, and you’ll find out who is holding the pen.
Hmm. That’s unfortunate you ran into such a strict cop. I guess if the fine actually reaches you, i think i would pay. Because if you’re from uk they check your name at the border i’d assume and i wouldn’t want any border drama if i went back into france. Not sure how you are being checked at the border. I got sent a parking ticket once from the netherlands and paid it.
I got called out by cops yesterday too for riding confused on the sidewalk, looking at the gps here in Zaragoza. They called me “caballero”, haha. No fine though.
Yeah bad luck I guess. My route companion got away with a warning from the guys colleague even though neither of us speak french. I would have much preferred an insult than a fine
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Sounded harmless to me, road blocked and riding at walking speed to get past the blockade. Pushing a bike takes more space on the sidewalk, nobody was endangered. Yeah it’s against the law. 90€ is a pretty hefty fine though imo.
Weird tone you got going.
In London you’re not allowed to ride on the pavement, either. In fact London cyclists have a reputation for not obeying the rules.
It doesn’t matter what speed you’re going, you’re supposed to dismount to go on the pavement.
This is true, but london police follow a culture of educate first before punishment. They give a friendly reminder to dismount first. And when the road is blocked for 20 feet it is easy to not even think to dismount.
All I’m reading here is that London police have allowed you to get away with breaking the law, and you’re expecting other countries to do the same.
That response strongly implies you already knew to dismount.
So you’re not really asking for the cop to educate you then?
Yes I generally know to dismount, but being in a new busy city trying to navigate and things at the end of a 7 hour day riding these things are easily overlooked in a moment where you make split decision without really thinking about it
Cycling on the pavement is not allowed in France. In rural France you might get away with it when the pavement / sidewalk is wide and it’s a quiet town, but in Paris you can bet they are very strict when it comes to pedestrian safety.
If you do a lot of bike tours I recommend looking up the local laws to make sure you’re prepared for situations like this in the future.
Regardless, hope you had a good time biking around. Paris is a mess at the moment due to the Olympics coming up, so some leniency would have been nice. Unlucky for you, I suppose.
I normally just try to stick to roads and cycle paths regardless. It was an error of judgement and I guess ive learnt the expensive way.
Yeah paris was a mess. I couldnt get near the eiffel tower with all the closures, and im surprised police werent posted there collecting fines as it is carnage trying to figure out where you are and arent allowed. But I will stop past a few more landmarks on the way to gare du nord to get the train to calais tomorrow.
We took avenue verte into paris, we are camped 11 miles from notre dame but it was 30 miles on the official route. Very nice, we saw a lot of paris that you wouldnt see visiting the city centre.
