Cycling streetFrance

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of France. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


14. Cycling street

A cycling street is a street designed or legally designated to give cyclists a prominent position in mixed traffic. Motor vehicles may usually enter, but they must adapt their speed and driving behaviour to the presence of cyclists.

Depending on the country, cyclists may be permitted to use more of the carriageway and motor vehicles may be prohibited from overtaking them. The speed limit, priority rules, permitted vehicles and beginning and end of the street depend on local traffic signs and regulations.

Cycling street
Sign indicating a zone 30 and a cyclist street. (Toulouse, France)
Wikimedia.org • Abdoucondorcet • CC BY-SA
How should I interpret a cycling-priority street in France?

A vélorue is a local cycling-oriented street arrangement. For example, Toulouse describes shared road space encouraging cycling, with motor traffic limited to local access. Its local signs and the national Road Code determine the enforceable traffic rules.

🔗 metropole.toulouse.fr • Toulouse Métropole — local vélorues and urban passing clearance

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • Road Code — R412-9 and R414-4; national duties remain applicable

Lane for cyclists. Lane for cyclists.

English • Traffic sign C113 • Recommended cycle track or lane reserved for two- or three-wheeled cycles. This sign indicates that use of the facility is recommended and reserved for two- or three-wheeled cycles; pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles must not use it or stop on it. However, powered personal mobility devices and light motorised cycles must use it under articles R. 412-43-1 and R. 412-43-4 of the Highway Code, unless a different decision by the traffic authority is duly signposted. An accompanying M4d2 plate indicates that the competent authority has also permitted mopeds to use the facility.

Français • Panneau C113 • Piste ou bande cyclable conseillée et réservée aux cycles à deux ou trois roues. Ce panneau indique que l'accès à une piste ou à une bande cyclable est conseillé et réservé aux cycles à deux ou trois roues et indique aux piétons et aux conducteurs des autres véhicules qu'ils n'ont pas le droit d'emprunter cet aménagement ni de s'y arrêter. Toutefois les engins de déplacement personnel motorisés et des cyclomobiles légers sont tenus d'y circuler conformément aux articles R. 412-43-1 et R. 412-43-4 du code de la route, sauf décision différente de l'autorité de police de la circulation dûment signalée. Le panonceau M4d2 qui peut compléter le panneau indique que, par décision de l'autorité compétente, cet aménagement est accessible aux cyclomoteurs.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 3.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex 45 self-made from source above • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Source revision 2019-10-04. Wikimedia original unmodified.

End of the lane for cyclists. End of the lane for cyclists.

English • Traffic sign C114 • End of a recommended cycle track or lane reserved for two- or three-wheeled cycles. This sign ends the rules imposed by sign C113.

Français • Panneau C114 • Fin d'une piste ou d'une bande cyclable conseillée et réservée aux cycles à deux ou trois roues. Ce panneau indique la fin de la réglementation édictée par le panneau C113.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 3.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex 45 self-made from source above • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Source revision 2019-10-04. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Which driving rules matter on a mixed cycling street in France?

In Toulouse’s example, a motorist must keep the required one-metre urban passing clearance when overtaking a cyclist. If there is insufficient space, wait. A vélorue label alone does not establish Belgium’s nationwide overtaking ban.

🔗 metropole.toulouse.fr • Toulouse Métropole — local vélorues and urban passing clearance

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • Road Code — R412-9 and R414-4; national duties remain applicable

Which priority rules apply on cycling streets in France?

Apply the junction’s signs, signals and ordinary priority rules. A local vélorue identity is not a promise of automatic cyclist priority at every crossing road. Check whether the route also has separate traffic or access restrictions.

🔗 metropole.toulouse.fr • Toulouse Métropole — local vélorues and urban passing clearance

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • Road Code — R412-9 and R414-4; national duties remain applicable

1 France 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Advisory speed 9 Footpath 10 Bike path 11 Pedestrian warning 12 Tunnel 13 Bridge 14 Cycling street 15 Pedestrian zone 16 Speed bump 17 Toll road 18 Customs 19 One-way traffic 20 Quay 21 Slope 22 Bus lane 23 Bus stop 24 Dead end 25 Stop sign 26 Give way 27 Roundabout 28 Priority road 29 Road narrowing 30 Priority over oncoming traffic 31 Give way to oncoming traffic 32 Pedestrian crossing 33 Railway crossing 34 Mandatory direction 35 Turn prohibition 36 School area 37 Overtaking 38 Crossing animals 39 Slippery road 40 Rockfall 41 Aircraft 42 Curve 43 Chevron 44 Wrong-way driving 45 Roadworks 46 Crosswind 47 Height limit 48 Width limit 49 Length limit 50 Weight limit 51 Radar speed sign 52 Selective barriers 53 Low-emission zone 54 Priority at the next junction 55 Traffic lights 56 Traffic lights warning 57 Pedestrian lights 58 Road markings 59 Junction layout 60 Bike box 61 Speed feedback 62 Driving licence 63 Location marker 64 Road number 65 Countdown markers 66 Public toilet 67 Rest area 68 Traffic mirror 69 Emergency telephone 70 International border 71 Cycling route 72 End of restriction 73 Parking 74 No parking 75 No stopping 76 Parallel parking 77 Alternate-side parking 78 Parking meter 79 Parking disc 80 Disabled parking 81 Traffic management 82 Merging 83 Reversing 84 U-turn 85 Carpool 86 Traffic jam 87 Uncontrolled crossroad 88 Road surface 89 Ring road 90 Exit 91 Information point 92 Horse riding 93 Provisional licence 94 Hazardous cargo 95 Emergency exit 96 Runaway truck ramp 97 Radio service 98 Oversize load 99 Lane 100 Tyre inflation station ...