Since the end of November, imposing signs have indicated in 14 pedestrian streets of Strasbourg: “Cyclists not obligatory”, “do not interfere with pedestrians”.
But this signage is not necessarily unanimous among the cyclists and residents we met.
Above all, according to the city, it is a question of remembering that there is a rule according to the Highway Code which asks, among other things, users to drive at walking pace in these pedestrian zones, i.e. at 6 kph.
Placed during the Christmas market at the entrance to certain pedestrian streets in the very center of Strasbourg, imposing signs indicate in 14 streets: "Cyclists not obligatory", "do not disturb pedestrians"... If users of the small queen can understand that they are not the kings there, here they are now informed that they can also be subject to a "fixed fine of 35 euros", as indicated in smaller size at the foot of the sign.
Not sure, however, that the message is really getting through.
Met by
20 Minutes
, Pierre, in his thirties, on his beautiful designer bike, finds this even “ridiculous” and claims to be careful when he sees pedestrians.
“No need for a sign, it's just common sense, I don't understand what they want except to make us feel guilty, the cyclist gets annoyed.
It's as if someone were telling me: don't roll blindfolded.
Of course!
For Hugo, the twenties are even “useless.
I saw it once in the beginning and I don't pay attention to it anymore.
That doesn't stop me from being careful, but it's always the same people we're aiming for, the bicycles, regrets the young man who adds: We should make the difference with those who have electric bicycles or the delivery men who drive like sick, but they are not told anything.
Sonia even thought that the city had forgotten to take them off after the Christmas market.
“Is the 35 euros still valid?
»,
“Electric scooters and vehicles too”
On the shore side, we wonder.
Louise, a Strasbourgeoise who specifies “using her bike all the time”, regrets the aesthetic aspect of this large panel.
“It's ugly, we only see that (…) We wonder if it's serious, if it's not an anti-bike group that put it up one night (laughs)”.
Louis, “doesn't care a bit”, even if he indicates that “it can help.
It doesn't hurt to remind newcomers to be careful,” he explains.
"But they should also have indicated that for electric scooters, it's even more dangerous because they drive so fast," adds a mother who rides a bike path, stroller in hand.
In the end, like a litany, it's always a bit more “other people's fault”.
Opinions which for some are however shared by Fabien Masson, director of the association for the promotion of cycling Cadr67.
“Recalling the traffic rules at the entrance to pedestrian zones is a good thing.
In substance it is good, in form, we do not understand what they wanted to say, ”points out the director.
“It's not clear, we don't know whether to dismount or not, it's an ambiguous situation.
We could perhaps have mentioned: Be careful, you are entering a pedestrian zone, respect the pedestrian and the speed of step at 6 km / h, ”he says.
Another pedal stroke that goes wrong, the stigmatization of cyclists, “as always”.
"It's all the behavior of users that we really need to review, instead of accusing one or the other, and often the bike, he says.
I'm not saying that some cyclists don't do anything but I would remind you that in the share of accidents recorded, which are very very low in the center of Strasbourg, we see that cyclists and pedestrians are responsible for 50% cases, underlines Fabien Masson.
We are therefore really on a general behavior", he adds, even if he concedes that "certain electric bicycles, used, in particular by delivery people, resemble" more mopeds than bicycles "and represent" a lot dissatisfaction on the part of pedestrians and even cyclists".
“A bike-ecosystem to think about”
As for a possible return of the reduced fines abandoned a few years ago, the director of CADR67 explains that they should be adapted to today's risky behaviors, such as excessive speeds, to try to settle pedestrian cyclist conflicts. .
"There is the question of the verbalization that we can review, but there is also a whole" ecosystem-bike "to think about, he adds.
Such as developments on the road, the presence of cycle paths on the sidewalks and which have nothing to do there, the noise pollution of delivery men with pallets... If we point out all these points which can be a source of conflict, we can get there but it is not only by verbalizing and stigmatizing cyclists that we will be able to succeed”.
“A set of measures” is the strategy chosen by the city, underlines Sophie Dupressoir, municipal councilor responsible for “the cycling and walking city”.
The panels are part of “an information campaign that is added to other actions that will be deployed.
Like the ring (fast cycle path that goes around the city), the facilities on the road, the bicycle parking points at the entrance to the Big Island... We also work with home meal delivery platforms and we have aware of the precariousness of delivery people,” adds Sophie Dupressoir.
"An often overlooked rule"
A set of measures which “aims to calm the pedestrian spaces of the historic center of the city, under the Highway Code”, recalls the adviser.
These panels “are also valid, of course, for electric scooters, authorized vehicles”, specifies Sophie Dupressoir.
"We talk to cyclists but we don't stigmatize them".
According to the city, the signs had to “be easy to read, even when moving forward.
They have only one objective, to remind you of the rules of the Highway Code in force in these spaces.
“A rule” often overlooked, that of having to drive at a walking pace and without disturbing pedestrians, underlines the adviser.
The rule is not slowing down, slowing down.
It is, according to the Highway Code, to drive at the pace of the step”, that is to say in the 6 km/h.
“The nuance is important because there are meeting areas where the cyclist can ride up to 20 km/h.
The rules had to be clarified, but of course we do not prohibit cyclists from riding in these spaces, ”defends Sophie Dupressoir.
A municipal councilor who hopes in the future to complete this set of measures with a “Strasbourg convention, a Strasbourg guide to the proper use of shared spaces”.
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