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French police use adapted radar to catch speeding cyclists
Bicycles are classified as vehicles and must follow road rules
Cyclists across France are being warned that they must also comply with speed limits, as a police unit in south-west France is usiing a new radar adapted for bicycles.
Police in Landes have made headlines in recent weeks after catching cyclists pedalling above speed limits.
A cyclist in the south-western department was flashed going over 30km/h in a 20km/h zone by officers using a mobile radar altered to also capture the speed of non-traditional vehicles.
This includes electric scooters (trotinettes électriques) and bikes as well as traditional bicycles.
Last month, police in Seine-et-Marne seized an electric scooter after the user was caught travelling at 54km/h - more than double the fixed limit on the road - and several towns have implemented additional rules for scooters.
What are the rules and potential penalties?
Under France’s road safety rules (Code de la route) all ‘vehicles’ are required to follow the rules of the path or road they are using.
This includes electric scooters, electric bikes, and traditional bicycles.
As such, they must adhere to all road signage, and this includes speed limits.
This applies both in urban areas (where limits of 20km/h, 30km/h or 50km/h are possible) and other non-urban roads.
Cyclists cannot use their vehicles on French motorways (autoroutes) and expressways.
They also cannot use their bikes on roads with a ‘vehicle only’ sign (a blue square with a white car).
Article R413-16 of the Code says: "Any driver of a vehicle other than a motor vehicle who violates the provisions of this Code regarding the maximum authorised speed is liable to the fine prescribed for second-class offences."
This is a €35 fine, reduced to €22 through early payment (within 15 days) but rising to €75 if not paid within 45 days.
As bicycles do not have number plates, you are only likely to be fined if caught by police directly, either using radars or other technology such as laser binoculars (used in Paris to catch speeding cyclists).
