Cyclists fined in dawn swoop

POLICE at La Baule, Loire-Atlantique, launched an early-morning swoop on the town’s Grand-Air school – to stop and check students’ bicycles.

The surprise pre-dawn checks at the lycée were to ensure that the students had lights and other legally required equipment on their bicycles and anyone failing the tests faced a fine of €11, which would rise to €33 if not paid in 45 days.

Bicycles must be fitted with brakes, a bell, lights front and back and reflectors (white at the front, red at the back and orange on the wheels and pedals) and the cyclist must wear a fluorescent jacket if riding at night or in bad light.

The Police Nationale in Loire-Atlantique tweeted about the checks on their Twitter account and copied school-speak saying the pupils “Could do better” and added that they would return for further checks.

However, cyclists across the rest of France should make sure their bikes are in order as the Interior Ministry’s road safety advisory council has called for them to face stricter checks after cyclist road deaths increased 6% last year.

Tests in Strasbourg where 833 fines were levied on cyclists showed that the number of cycling accidents fell 37% that year.

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Photo:Police Nationale 44 Twitter