As Paris gradually returns to normal after the Olympic Games Paris 2024, residents of and visitors to the French capital continue to benefit from the 120 kilometres of cycle paths created especially for the occasion.
The 120km of new cycle paths means there is now a total of 400km of cycle lanes across Ile-de-France (also known as Paris region). These will be maintained after the Paralympic Games to make it easier for the people of Ile-de-France to get around by bike.
All the Olympic and Paralympic venues in the Ile-de-France region, with the exception of Villepinte, are accessible by bike using cycle paths protected from motor traffic. A first in the history of the Games.
Included in this network are 28km of cycle paths in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, which link the railway station with competition sites such as the National Velodrome, host of the Olympic and Paralympic track cycling, and the nearby Olympic BMX Racing venue.
In addition, cycling is encouraged for the entirety of the Olympic and Paralympic period (26 July to 8 September) with 46,000 self-service bikes available for rent and more than 27,000 additional parking spots for bikes including 3000 permanent spaces at the main railway stations. In the vicinity of the Olympic and Paralympic venues, these spaces are free of charge and supervised during the competition sessions.
Another positive legacy of the Games: 10,000 temporary bike racks spaces were installed near and around Olympic venues. After the Games, these racks will be moved to sports centres, schools and municipal facilities around Paris.
Charlotte Guth, Head of Bicycle Mission for the City of Paris Roads and Transport Department said: “Today, in Paris, cycling is no longer just a weekend pastime, but the fastest and easiest way to get around on a daily basis. The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games have offered us a unique opportunity to accelerate these changes, and visitors so far have taken advantage of it as we saw a lot of cyclists on our trails during the Olympic Games!”