Bike transfer between Gare du Nord & Gare Montparnasse

[Arabella]

Hi,

We are planning to do a week's trip in Brittany along some of the Velo Verte with our 2 year old daughter in the summer. My first sticking point is trying to get across Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, without having to actually ride! I would be terrified of cycling through Paris with my daughter on the back of my husband's bike (the whole point of choosing the velo verte is to ensure traffic free routes)! My current idea is to walk the route on the pavements with the bikes but we'll have a trailer so we'll get in the way a bit. Has anyone any idea if the pavements are wide enough or have any other ideas for the transfer?

I know we could also get the ferry to St Malo/Roscoff but my daughter has yet to be on a ferry and I don't want to risk a 12 hours trip for her first voyage. To get from any ports east of there to Brittany involves going through Paris as far as I can see.

Thank you.

 

[mjr]

I would be terrified of cycling through Paris with my daughter on the back of my husband's bike (the whole point of choosing the velo verte is to ensure traffic free routes)! My current idea is to walk the route on the pavements with the bikes but we'll have a trailer so we'll get in the way a bit. Has anyone any idea if the pavements are wide enough or have any other ideas for the transfer?

I think there are now mostly cycleways connecting the Gares du Nord, Est, Lyon, Austerlitz and Montparnasse, which I've plotted at https://cycle.travel/map/journey/90746 - click on part of the route and click "Street View" in the pop-up to show the street view. I'd take it slow and walk the difficult junctions if needed (Bastille, Faubourg Saint Marceau and Montparnasse) - worst case, this should be an OK route to walk a bike.

ETA: it appears one is now directed/allowed to ride past the fountain in République which makes that junction easier.

Further Edit: it seems from the Lyon to Montparnasse is a busway which you're allowed to cycle on. If you drag the route further southeast to Pont de Bercy and Place d'Italie, you could do even more on cycleways, but there's still some busway and cycle lanes and it's about 20% longer

 

[Donger]

Hi,

I know we could also get the ferry to St Malo/Roscoff but my daughter has yet to be on a ferry and I don't want to risk a 12 hours trip for her first voyage. To get from any ports east of there to Brittany involves going through Paris as far as I can see.

Thank you.

Fast ferry to Caen, perhaps?

 

[Arabella]

I think there are now mostly cycleways connecting the Gares du Nord, Est, Lyon, Austerlitz and Montparnasse, which I've plotted at https://cycle.travel/map/journey/90746 - click on part of the route and click "Street View" in the pop-up to show the street view. I'd take it slow and walk the difficult junctions if needed (Bastille, Faubourg Saint Marceau and Montparnasse) - worst case, this should be an OK route to walk a bike.

ETA: it appears one is now directed/allowed to ride past the fountain in République which makes that junction easier.

Further Edit: it seems from the Lyon to Montparnasse is a busway which you're allowed to cycle on. If you drag the route further southeast to Pont de Bercy and Place d'Italie, you could do even more on cycleways, but there's still some busway and cycle lanes and it's about 20% longer

This is so helpful, thank you.

 

[Arabella]

Fast ferry to Caen, perhaps?

Oh great, I didn't know about that route. Magic, I've just checked and the train goes direct to Rennes from Caen! Brilliant. Many thanks.