Some might think Paris may be too hectic to pedal through, but actually it’s as safe as walking with the added bonus of being quicker as well.

Basically, the whole city is only a few kilometers across in size, so if a person hops on a bike, he/she can get to most destinations in half an hour or less. With around 220 km of biking paths winding around the city, the good news is that there are many routes to choose from.

Cycling routes crisscross through main streets as well as quiet hidden avenues so an outlet is available for whatever excursion you might have in mind for the day.

Here is a quick look at two routes the city has to offer:

Starting point: Left Bank, Jardin des Plantes

End point of the first leg: Eiffel Tower

Length: 11 miles

If this is your first time to Paris, this route might be worth checking out as it offers a glimpse of the hidden as well as historic side of the city. The path starts at the Paris Mosque, which is near the Jardin des Plantes. Even before starting your trip, take a moment to enjoy the Moorish style architecture as well as the courtyards and quiet gardens of the mosque.

Once you are ready to go, hop on your bike and embark towards rue Lacepède to follow it to place de la Contrescarpe, which used to be an old haunt of Ernest Hemingway.

Head to rue Mouffetard, a famous street filled with outdoor markets. From here, go up a hill to the highest point on the left bank: the Pantheon (the copy of a monument which you can find in Roma, Italy). The monument is dedicated to the French Revolution, and houses a crypt where famous Parisian figures such as Marie Curie (Nobel Prize winner) and Victor Hugo (19 th century writer, poet, and political activist) are buried.

Take time to get off your bike to explore the surroundings.

From here, head towards the Luxembourg Gardens via rue Soufflot. Go around the Luxembourg Gardens, and head to rue Garancière which leads the way to the noted St. Sulpice square and church. This spot offers superb photo opportunities.

Continue towards the invigorating St. Germain-des-Prés area (either along Rue de Rennes, or through the small side streets branching out from the St. Sulpice square). A St-Germain des Prés, walk around the oldest church in Paris.

Then get back on your bike and explore the quays of the River Seine, to the Orsay Museum, which hosts a fabulous collection of Impressionists in the renovated building of a 1900s railway station.

Take rue de l’Université, and go past the Invalides gardens, which hosts a calm, quiet surrounding in which to rest or grab a nice coffee or tea before ending the route at the base of the 324-meter Eiffel Tower.

Starting and End Point: Bois de Boulogne

Length : 10 miles

On the western edge of the city, there is an opportunity to escape the hustle-bustle of Paris intra-muros for a while, and bike around a large expanse of greenery known as the Bois de Boulogne. There are many dirt and asphalt paths to choose from and an average journey is around 10 miles in length.

The relaxing surroundings host features such as the world famous clay courts of Roland Garros, which attracts hardcore tennis fans each year to watch players compete the French Open. If you’re a fan, don’t miss the opportunity to walk around these courts.

Another notable attraction is the 60-acre Bagatelle Gardens, which are wonderfully colored with roses and tulips, and offer a nice backdrop from which to get off the bike and take a few photos. The park is also filled with oak trees, lakes, and even a waterfall at the Carrefour des Cascades.

As to its history, Napoleon III gave the park grounds to the city in the mid-1800's and the park was designed by the famous Baron Haussman. He created a similar park on the other side of the city (to the east), the Bois de Vincennes.

Getting Started:

Now that you’ve got a few routes in mind to check out, the next step is getting started:

A detailed map is critical for biking around Paris. Get one online with current one-way/two-way indications at www.media-cartes.fr. The company even offers special maps for bikers.

The good news is that some streets are closed down during certain hours, and some streets are even reserved solely for cycling purposes as well as for rollerblading and walking. Note that the right bank of the Seine is closed to car traffic and only open to bikers, roller-skaters and pedestrians on Sundays until late in the afternoon.

A valuable source of information can be found at www.paris.fr. On a side note, you can’t carry your bike with you on the metro lines within the city, but if you want to cycle outside Paris, some train services do allow you to take your bike with you.

If you don’t have your own bike, there are a few bicycle tour shops operating around town, including:

• Paris Vélo, which can found at 2 Rue du Fer-à-Moulin, 75002, Paris or by calling 01-43-37-59-22,
• Paris à Vélo, C’est Sympa 37, boulevard Bourdon, 75004 with the telephone number of 01-48-87-60-01.

In short, Paris has become quite a cycling friendly city over the years and the many routes available provide an invigorating and energetic way to explore its streets.

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Zoie Clift is a talented contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com. Should you like her to write professionally for you, please contact her at .