- Many Ile-de-France residents have converted to cycling since the strikes began. This conversion has continued since the resumption of public transport.
- By bicycle, certain equipment is compulsory. This is the case of lighting, horn and high visibility vest.
- Ile-de-France Mobilités and the mayor of Paris offer grants to help those who wish to buy an electrically assisted bicycle.
"In Paris by bike we overtake cars!" »Self-service bicycles, boom in electric assistance (VAE), strikes… Cycling has been on the rise for a few years in Ile-de-France. Pushed by favorable political winds, the followers of the pedal multiply. In particular in Paris, where the counters installed by the town hall counted 54% more cyclists between September 2018 and September 2019. If a part of Ile-de-France residents were forced to go there to get to work, this has happened revealed a generally positive experience since many of them declared that they wanted to continue despite the resumption of public transport. But spending energy will not be enough to afford a bike and all the necessities that accompany it.
A cost difficult to estimate
It is very complicated to give an average price spent by Ile-de-France residents for their "bike". Jean-Marie Beauvais, transport economist, explains the main obstacle: "We cannot differentiate, in the figures, the bicycle bought to move from that in which we invest for leisure or competition, it is obvious that the latter is much more expensive. The Federation of associations of transport users (FNAUT) figures, in its study published this Friday, at 21 cents per kilometer the cost of a bicycle. The federation obtains it by dividing the total annual expenditure of cyclists by the number of cyclists and the kilometers traveled. But this estimate takes into account all models of bike, from the sporty to the most modest through the VAE.
There is something for all budgets
According to the Cycle Observatory, in 2017, the average price of a bicycle is very different at a retailer (1,320 euros) and in a large sports area (225 euros). Significant sums to be spent. But for those who drive quietly and know how to avoid potholes, it is possible to find entry-level at just over a hundred euros. Cyclists who want to brave the urban jungle with a little more vigor must turn to mountain bikes (mountain bikes) or mountain bikes. The note will then climb since it costs at least 300 euros for these models, roughly the price of entry-level "Fixie", very popular in the capital. Those who like speed and want to buy a road bike, will have to reduce their weight by at least 600 euros.
For the more adventurous and DIY enthusiasts, it is possible to lower the rating by searching on resale sites between individuals, or by contacting associations that collect impound bikes to repair and resell them. The costs are random but some good deals are negotiated below one hundred euros.
The latest on the market, electrically assisted bicycles (VAE) have made a remarkable entrance. While many pedelecs display prices of several thousand euros, some models are available from 500 euros and offer a range greater than 25 or 30 kilometers. If they have fairly basic equipment, they are quite sufficient for daily journeys, such as commuting to work for example. The cost of this equipment varies mainly depending on autonomy and options. According to UFC Que Choisir, the average amount spent by the French for VAE is between 1,500 and 2,000 euros.
For those who do not wish to acquire a bicycle, there is always self-service. The "Vélib", for example, offers packages from 3.10 to 8.30 euros per month, depending on the formulas. Advantageous rates also exist for young people and people in financial difficulty.
Other private platforms are trying their luck on the market (such as the famous bright red bikes on the sidewalks) and offer races at 0.15 euros per minute in addition to one euro for unlocking.
Here is Paris !!!! 85% of cyclists note an improvement in the situation for cycling in two years. #Bike Barometer pic.twitter.com/xYHLeUFT62
- MDB (@MDBIDF) February 6, 2020Do not forget to equip yourself
Having a bicycle is not enough to circulate safely and legally. The law stipulates that certain equipment is compulsory. So many additional expenses to foresee.
This is the case for lighting, it is a matter of seeing where you are driving, but above all, being well seen. And not only at night, since it is also compulsory in the event of insufficient visibility during the day. The service-public.fr site explains the two necessary lights: “a position light emitting a glare-free, yellow or white light towards the front. And a rear position light which must be clearly visible from the rear when the bicycle is in use. So to avoid a fine (from 11 to 38 euros), you will have to pay at least between 10 and 20 euros.
Being visible is not enough since you also have to be heard. The legislation explains that all bikes must be equipped with a warning device (bell) which must be heard at least 50 meters away. The first prices are around only five euros.
Always with the aim of signaling its presence to other road users, any driver and passenger of a bicycle must wear outside the built-up area an approved waistcoat (yellow vests, marked "CE") with high visibility. Without this, cyclists risk a fine of 150 euros. It is expensive to pay for forgetting a piece of equipment that can be found for five to ten euros in commerce or on the Internet.
Finally, if it is only compulsory up to 12 years old, wearing a helmet is strongly recommended. Especially in the Paris region, where traffic is dense and where bicycle accidents are legion (36 dead in 2018 in the capital). The price of a helmet ranges from 15 to over a hundred euros depending on the model.
Maintenance, repairs and insurance cost
To make the pleasure last with his mount, he must be pampered. Those who are not afraid to get their hands dirty can buy a maintenance kit for around forty euros. Those who prefer to put their hands in the pocket, will turn to professionals. The bill can go up quite quickly, but it is possible to find repairers who offer annual reviews and maintenance from 80 euros.
The pedelecs, like their 100% mechanical counterpart, use a battery for electrical assistance. Delivered with the bike, they must be recharged. The cyclable.com site has calculated that a 50-kilometer recharge costs around 0.075 euros. Cyclists who are afraid of running out of juice in the morning can get a second battery. For this, it will cost between 200 and 900 euros depending on the autonomy and the brand.
Unfortunately, good maintenance does not guarantee against punctures, shocks or damage. To have your bike repaired, it is first appropriate to compare the prices of different professionals. They can vary from simple to triple in the capital. From 10 euros for a brake adjustment, to 150 euros for a frame repair, the prices are very diverse. And that's without counting the electronic settings of the pedelecs which amount to more than a hundred euros.
To compensate for a possible puncture, do not hesitate to bring a repair kit consisting of a tire changer (3 euros), an inner tube (5 euros) and a bicycle pump (from 15 to 30 euros).
Thefts and damage are also part of the life of cyclists in the Paris region. It is therefore advisable to first choose a good anti-theft device. If the first prices are around 30 euros, the majority of models are between 70 and 90 euros. There are even connected models from 150 euros that allow you to know if the bike is moving or if someone is trying to force it to be safe.
Then to avoid emptying your bank account or going into debt to buy a new one, the solution may be to take out insurance. Some home or car insurance already includes two-wheelers. Otherwise, it is possible to take a special formula with your insurer from 80 euros per year.
Financial aid exists
If even the king of the bitumen requires investments, the wind of ecology blows in the backs of the cyclists and the authorities have set up financial aids which make it possible to reduce the bill.
In order to convince the people of Ile-de-France to set foot on the pedal, Ile-de-France Mobilités offers a subsidy of up to 500 or 600 euros depending on the model, and up to 50% of the price for the purchase of a VAE.
The Paris City Hall also offers financial assistance of 33% of the price of the VAE with a ceiling of 400 euros for a classic “electric bike” and 600 euros for a cargo VAE.
Finally, some companies offer a bicycle kilometer allowance (IKV) to their employees. Not compulsory, it amounts, for those who can benefit, to 0.25 euro per kilometer.
Bordeaux
Ranking of the most cycling cities in France: Bordeaux leaves the podium
municipal
Municipal in 2020 in Paris: Anne Hidalgo wants to remove 60,000 parking spaces to make bicycle paths
- Region
- Subsidies
- Economy
- Electric bike
- Paris
- Bike