-
GR, GRP, PR: What do the French hiking signs mean?
What are the coloured symbols on French hiking routes? Who paints them there and why?
-
Miss France: glam - but not sexy
Miss France organiser Geneviève de Fontenay fears she is fighting a losing battle to protect her 'Cinderella dream' from vulgarity
-
Normandy Landings visit for Queen
Queen Elizabeth has confirmed a state visit to France, ending rumours she is handing over duties to Charles
Bikes can ignore one-way rules
Cyclists can travel along one-way streets in either direction from July 1, but only in 30kph zones
CYCLING the wrong way up a one-way street is to be made legal in France from July 1 - but with certain restrictions.
The new rules will only apply to roads in a 30kph zone, and individual town halls will have the option not to follow the initiative if they consider it too dangerous.
Towns and cities around the country have begun updating their road signs to raise awareness of the new rules.
An extra line should appear underneath the no-entry sign reading: "Sauf vélos" (except bikes) and a sign at the other end of the street will warn drivers to look out for cyclists.
Road safety body Certu oversaw a five-year trial on 25 roads in the small Alsace town of Ill-kirch-Graffenstaden, which produced no accidents - although it is not yet clear how motorists in busy cities such as Paris will react.
Pedestrian group Les Droits du Piéton supports the move, although it says cyclists have a responsibility to look out for other road users - especially old people crossing the street who might not hear the bike approaching.
Related stories:
Half of cyclists break law in Paris
Blind spot warning after Vélib' death
Marco Richter - Fotolia.com