“I try to be as careful as possible”

In 2021, 226 cyclists died on the roads of mainland France, according to the latest report drawn up by road safety. This is the first time in twenty years that this number has exceeded the symbolic bar of 200. While mortality has fallen for motorists and motorized two-wheelers, it has however increased for cyclists, especially outside urban areas (+35% per compared to 2019, i.e. before the pandemic). In town too, these users do not always feel safe.

Thus, during the fifteen minutes of his journey between his home and his office in Paris, Olivier says to himself “always on the lookout”. He pays attention to everything: “I’m always anticipating, right, left, straight…” He watches in particular the door openings. “It happened to me two or three months ago. I didn’t go to the hospital but I had a nice glide.” Sabir also avoided the worst the day when, at the start, the driver of a van ran into him. He has not “I didn’t have a boo but it was a big scare. That’s why I try to be as careful as possible.” Among the prohibitions he sets himself, “do not pass a bus or truck on the right”. And among the obligations, “always wear the helmet”. “In the event of a fall, it can be very useful.”

According to Agnès, who has been going to work on a bicycle for eight years, it is especially new post-covid cyclists who must be wary. “There are a lot more cycle paths but also a lot more cyclists. And it’s like among motorists: there are people who absolutely don’t pay attention to others”, she laments.

But cyclists are not the only ones to pose a danger, according to this woman. Pedestrians, “who cross with their phone and who do not look” are also a source of danger. Scooter users are also in his sights: “I consider that they have behaviors that are much more dangerous and much less respectful of other users”, she says. A total of 22 electric scooter users died on the roads last year, compared to 10 in 2019.