Parisian suburb tests bright lights on cyclist lanes to improve safety
LED lights come on when cyclists ride over them, alerting nearby drivers
Some cyclists believe the measure does not go far enough. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
A suburb on the outskirts of Paris is trialling an illuminated bike lane to improve cyclist safety.
The trial in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine) has been taking place for over a month, and will remain in place until November 2026 whilst the commune assesses the safety impact of the measure.
LED lights at the intersection of the RD50 (rue Rouget de Lisle) and the RD7 (Quai Franklin Roosevelt) roads show the parameters of the cycle lane passing through, and light up when a cyclist rides over them to alert motorists to their presence.
The roads where the lights have been installed are a high-risk area for cyclists, with over 1,000 issues (not all of which lead to accidents) between them and motorists taking place each day, said deputy mayor David Daoulas to FranceInfo.
In 2021, a cyclist died in the commune after being hit by a car at a junction.
Read more: Cyclist stabbed in row over road rights in Lyon
Mixed reviews of trial
Although the lights increase visibility the response has been mixed.
Cyclists in general have welcomed the lights as an increased safety measure but some believe they do not go far enough.
“The only thing it will add is a little more visibility at the intersection,” said one cyclist to FranceInfo.
“I'd prefer a barrier that allows me to move away,” he added.
Courbevoie, a nearby commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department recently implemented a concrete barrier between the cycle and driving lanes, and a chequerboard pattern on parts of the road where the two intersect.
Rules for cyclists changed in December 2024, with new accessories to increase visibility at night-time approved in the Code de la route (French road safety laws).
Read more: The Code de la route has changed for cyclists in France
