-
These are the average funeral costs per region in France
Normandy has the highest average cost and Occitanie has the lowest
-
These are the common and rare cycling signs all road users should know in France
Cycle lane rules, yield signs, and two-way bike traffic signs are all key for drivers to know
-
Anti-road rage protests in France after cyclist run over and killed by SUV driver
‘Motorised violence kills. We want the public authorities to really get to grips with the issue,’ organiser said
France’s first bicycle-hearse brings ‘softness’ to funerals
The ‘corbicyclette’ is shaking up the French funeral business by transporting coffins to the cemetery on a bicycle, a quiet, eco-friendly alternative to the traditional hearse
A Paris funeral home has become the first in France to offer services using a bicycle.
The corbicyclette, from the French for hearse (corbillard) and bicycle, uses an electric-assisted bike to transport the coffin to the cemetery.
Isabelle Plumereau, founder of Le Ciel & La Terre, said she wanted to make the grieving process “more soft and poetic”.
Loved ones can walk alongside the coffin while “listening to the wind and birds” and holding on to bars along the side.
“When you see people who are already sad taking exhaust fumes in the face, it’s a double penalty,” she said.
Similar vehicles exist in the US, the Netherlands and Denmark, but Ms Plumereau had to adapt the concept to France’s regulations, which state that the coffin must be hidden. The coffin is, therefore, enclosed in an opaque compartment.
Ms Plumereau has been pleasantly surprised by the interest.
“In France, I have often felt rather alone with my ideas,” she said. “I think society is ready to evolve.”
The service will soon be available in Paris and surrounding areas, though each request will be assessed.
“Hills are a considerable obstacle.”
Related articles
Ecological burials gain popularity in France in face of tradition
What options are there for eco-friendly funerals in France?
Zero-emission electric riverboat in Paris makes 800 deliveries per day