Insults, intimidation, beatings and sometimes much worse. In 2018, more than 175 people died on bikes in France, i.e. 5% of deaths on the roads. A very small share compared to certain European countries, more open to two wheels. But the vulnerability of these millions of French cyclists, often drowned in motorized traffic, raises questions.
In recent times, the capital has become a real textbook case with the transport strike. According to the Paris fire brigade (BSPP), in mid-January, interventions for two-wheeler accidents are still 30% above normal since December 5.
We found four regulars of the bike, injured (or assaulted!) In recent weeks on the public highway, in Paris or elsewhere. They testify to a security never really guaranteed and a growing animosity with the motorist fauna.
"The driver was in complete denial"
Luc, 43, lives in Grand Besançon (Doubs). Most of the time, he commutes to work by bicycle. On December 17, a car crashed into it at full speed.
“It was day, I wore a helmet as well as gloves and a fluorescent vest, but that was not enough. When I was engaged on a roundabout at around 20 km / h, a car struck me from the back when I turned right and made me fall to the ground. I had however stretched my arm to show my intention to stay on the roundabout. I had also honked my horn several times when I saw her stick to me.
In the end, I was evacuated by firefighters in shell mattresses and with a neck brace. At the time, the motorist was in complete denial. "You have nothing," he said, looking at his car. Get up, it could have been worse. " The amicable finding finally went well… once I showed him the video (below). The driver did not minimize and dispute the facts. However, he did not apologize.
It is day, at the entrance of the 🚗la 🚗 is not there, I stretch my arm pr to show my intention to stay on the roundabout (lives ~ 20kmh) the car arrives by rear spoils, I honk more often being in front of it , she charges me qd mm🤬 #GiletFluo #GantFluo # lights #Helmet #velotaf pic.twitter.com/6m3tebhS2f
- 🇫🇷 🚴♂️🚸🥕🚑 Ptit.Luc (@ LucP25) December 17, 2019A handrail was filed because a driver stopped and notified the police and the emergency services. But I did not go to the police station. In December 2018, after a similar accident, the gendarmerie mitigated the facts and the driver's aggressiveness. I was even told straight in the eye that a complaint would be useless. So now I am discouraged.
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By dint of kilometers, I realize that as long as the bikes do not have a deterrent potential, like a motorcycle or a scooter in terms of weight and potential damage to their precious car, there will be no awareness . Beyond that, only real infrastructure separating bikes from cars will convince the French who still refuse to take their bikes. "
"He violently and deliberately hit me from the rear"
On September 4, Etienne, 40, was pushed to the ground by a motorist who was traveling on the bus lane in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. The latter was found guilty of violence with weapons at first instance.
“This morning, I was driving on a bus lane when a car moved off my lane, touching my handlebars with the rearview mirror. His traffic lane was blocked.
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A few meters further, on returning to his height, I pointed out to him that his driving was dangerous. Unpleasantly, he explained to me that I had nothing to do in the bus corridor and insulted me. I too insulted him. And a few meters further, he violently and deliberately struck me from the rear, causing me to fall on the sidewalk. Injuring myself at the knees and thighs.
Passers-by helped me to my feet, and others stopped the driver at the traffic light. He then got out of his vehicle for a few minutes but I don't know the content of their discussions. Finally, the police went there. They took my complaint and thanks to the witnesses and the video, the police were able to find my attacker who was tried in immediate appearance a week later.
In the hands of some, the car becomes a weapon.
I would have preferred not to be a victim this morning. Fortunately, I only seem to have bruises.
The driver fled.
Thank you to the witnesses, police and firefighters. # ViolenceMotorisee #BanCars pic.twitter.com/mcvnK6CJrT
The motorist admitted part of the facts but denied any intention of knocking me over. He claimed that he was trying to rise up to me to continue the conversation. Obviously, the bus lane was not wide enough for him to succeed in his maneuver ... In the end, he was sentenced to six months suspended sentence with probation, obligation to compensate the victim and carry out a awareness training. The only offenses retained were violence with a weapon by destination and damage to property. But nothing about the hit and run. "
"He said to me in an aggressive tone," Where are you getting my cash from? " "
On November 27, Julien, 24, claims to have been assaulted by a motorist in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. A complaint has been made.
“I was coming home from work by bike when I had to get off the bike path to avoid a stationary vehicle. He completely blocked the way. I then went through the sidewalk to fold the right rear view mirror of the vehicle. The goal was to show the motorist that he was annoying. It was at that moment that a man came out of the cafe opposite ... He said to me in an aggressive tone "From where do you touch my cash register?". I replied calmly "Where are you parking on the track?".
A friend of his joined him then I suddenly took a slap on the left cheek. Seeing the two individuals threateningly come towards me, I took my defense bomb, a pepper spray, and ordered them to back off. Seeing that they were not backing up, I sprinkled them and they fled. I left in the opposite direction and in an emergency I rode on the sidewalk with my bike. What a lady pointed out to me. I apologized and explained to him what had just happened, soon joined by three witnesses.
The guy who slapped me then came out of the bar. And with a scarf on his head, surely to avoid being sprayed again, he hit my rear wheel with a wooden board. A few minutes after the incident, I came back to take a picture of the license plate. I complained. But while having the absolute certainty that the police will not conduct the investigation for a second.
My bike was screwed up. The rear light was ejected instantly. And especially the rim was twisted. It was a rental electric bike, worth 1200 euros. Fortunately, the repair was fully covered by insurance. "
"I was rejected five times before I could file a complaint"
On January 2, in the heart of Paris, Julie fell on the asphalt with her child in the back. After the driver fled, she wanted to file a complaint. An obstacle course .
“I was traveling that afternoon on a bicycle path separate from the road. My daughter was in the back in a child seat. At an intersection, a car driving in the same direction as me wanted to turn on its left while I was pedaling straight. What is prohibited. It is a refusal of priority. I had to brake suddenly. The road being wet, I slipped with the bicycle, and we fell. The car did not stop and fled. Seeing me shocked, passersby helped me up. Two people also gave me their identity to testify, and one of them was able to take the license plate.
At the hospital, I was diagnosed with a sprained cervical spine. And three days of total incapacity for work. Luckily, my daughter was not injured. We were both wearing a helmet.
Psychological abuse unfortunately does not stop there. I suffered the refusals and contempt of five police officers before I could file a complaint. I may be naive, but I am flabbergasted by this welcome. However, there were witnesses, the license plate, a child at play and the certificate of sick leave.
At the police station of the 3rd arrondissement, I was told that "the hit and run offense is not made up […] Imagine, the driver was probably just on the phone, he didn't see you, that's all […] ". Finally, a young policewoman and her "tutor" (a cyclist) took my complaint to the police station in the 13th century - despite the objections of some of their colleagues. "
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