New website for cycling in France

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vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
Hi vernon,

Just a couple of very naive questions re cycling in France. I'm planning to take my tent to keep my overnight options open but I've never actually camped there. Outside July & August, when I do not plan to visit, am I still advised to book ahead be it camping or chambres d'hote? Also, I understand that in France they are re-classifying the roads over a number of years ie 'Ns to 'Ds', I think. There appears to be a variety of 'D' roads, some of which look like motorways on the map and others that look more like country lanes. Is there a way of knowing what lies ahead before you find yourself on a road that you are not happy with?

Thanks


The N and D roads are variable and the only time I got anxious was when I cycled through Lyon and found the traffic intense but courteous.

I've never been turned away from a camp site in France even though some of them displayed full signs. The camp site owners/wardens always found a quiet spot even if it meant me occupying a pitch already occupied by a caravan but not being used by the occupants. All of my touring was in July and August and I always found a pitch at a camp site and when I couldn't find a camp site I wild camped.
 
Well done Lyn just added it to my favourites.
 

zexel

Veteran
Location
Cambs
It is difficult to know, from a big scale map, which D's are going to be main routes and which are not - or how busy there going to be. I live on a D road for instance, maybe half a dozen cars a day.

I wouldn't overly worry about it though. If you find yourself on a busy road, don't fret, traffic is usually pretty considerate to cyclists and you'll soon enough find a side road to scoot down if you want. I must admit to using busier D roads sometimes when cycling because, as unpleasant as they can be, they are often the most sensible option... it can get annoying constantly navigating left right left right on communal roads.

Hi

Hopefully you wouldn't mind me asking a couple of questions on this thread.

I'm doing a Montpelier - Calais in August and a total noob when it comes to cycling abroad. I've looked on Google maps and seen dual carriageway that is designated as 'D' could someone tell me if these are fine to cycle on and what roads are a no-no. Picture of the 'D' dual carriageway included.

On the map of Beauvais, it looks like the same road is an 'E', 'N' and 'D' designation. Whats that all about?



 

yello

back and brave
Location
France
On the map of Beauvais, it looks like the same road is an 'E', 'N' and 'D' designation. Whats that all about?

European, National and Departmental - same road, different numbers. Just the way it is. It's more confusing on maps than at ground level, trust me. Roads are invariably signed with the D numbers. They also tend to have small road side posts every km or so that give the D number, if you're really not sure!

You also have C (or communal) roads. These can be in pretty poor state sometimes but still perfectly cyclable as a rule. They're maintained by the commune (a local council sort of thing) so they only get resurfaced when the locals really complain! (joke, I have no idea really!!). There are also VO ('voie originale' or old road) and 'chemin vertes' or green lanes. They latter not tending to be on anything other than specialist cycling/walking maps, the former being... well, the old road to somewhere! I guess and old D road?? I don't know in truth... but perfectly good for cycling.

The only roads you can't cycle on are autoroutes - the A roads (that said, I don't know if cyclists might be prohibited from some D roads - I'm not aware of it and have never seen it, but it is a possibility I guess!).

Personally, I wouldn't want to cycle on a dual carriageway D road. Similar to a dual carriageway A road in the UK so usually busy and with trucks etc. Where there are such roads, there will be alternatives that'll take you in the same direction.

Maybe Lynn has some of this info on her website already? There's certainly a better authority than me on the web somewhere but hopefully I've given you an idea of the basics.
 

andym

Über Member
The difference between an N road, D road, and a C road can sometimes simply be a matter of who has the responsibility for maintrnance (ie national government, département or commune). (BTW I always assumed E stood for 'Express').

As a general rule I avoid routes nationales and any D road marked in red on a Michelin map. You can find stretches of D road where bikes aren't allowed and unfortunately there's no way of telling from the map. Fortunately (In my very limited experience) they don't seem to ban bikes without providing an alternative route.

My experience is that voies communales cam be just as well maintained if not better maintained than roads maintained by the département - which may have more money but often that money is spread over a lot of roads.
 

yello

back and brave
Location
France
(BTW I always assumed E stood for 'Express').

I think you're right. My English France map calls them 'expressways', but my French French map doesn't say.

I guess I assumed it was because A roads are sometimes also E roads - according to my French French maps anyway. According to my English French maps, it seems different speed limits apply on autoroutes and on expressways. Max 130kph on the former, 110kph on the latter. I assumed E was just a European designation for a motorway because they can cross borders! But maybe an E road is just a slower section of an A road??? Dunno!

All a moot point really considering bikes are not allowed on either nor concerned about whether it's 130 or 110!!

I believe you're right about the maintenance aspect of N,D and C roads. At least, that is my understanding too. I have no idea who maintains the VOs. I assumed it was the department because they're usually in better condition than the communal roads. But I admit, that's hardly the basis for an informed decision! Either way, they are good roads to cycle because, by their very nature, they usually have less traffic since they have been effectively replaced by a quicker or more direct route.

Interesting what you say about bikes not being allowed on some D roads. I've never seen it myself but can well believe it's the case.
 

andym

Über Member
There's a section of the D786 going to/from Binic in Britanny and also a section of the nearby D7 (IIRc). Looking at my IGN 1:250k map these are shiwn as dual carriagewaya - anotherr reason to avoid them.
 
I have tried to join the website but I have not received the email activate my account
 

yello

back and brave
Location
France
Picture12.jpg


with a nice sepia tint just for effect

taken on my crappy old mobile so sorry for lack of quality!
 
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