Guide to Riding in France
With summer Euro tours for bikers either underway or happening imminently, it's high time to get to know what to expect when you go to some of these countries. In this post I'm going to cover what to expect in France in terms of riding, the laws you need to abide by, and recommend some stops and things to try in the country.
France is the home of some of the best cuisine in the world – arguably all the reason you’d need to go somewhere! Even better for bikers it also has some great riding roads. My favourite areas are in the south where the country gets mountainous with the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as the area surround the Verdon Gorge – there is great riding to be had all around here. Chances are a lot of Euro tours will include at least a part of France thanks to the Eurotunnel and cross-Channel ferries landing here, so it’s worth being aware of what you may encounter hereBeing a large country there’s a lot to see, and potentially a lot of ground to cover if you need to get somewhere. Thankfully it’s home to what are probably the best toll roads in Europe – they’re not cheap, but if you need to get somewhere in a hurry they’re very hard to beat. Moving away from the toll roads can be a good idea if you’re not in a hurry, or fancy seeing some kind of scenery as the toll roads are very bland, and all the food you’ll try will be from a service station. As soon as you get off them you’ll see the real France, and often it’s quite charming.
I strongly recommend going to a random local restaurant in one of the small towns you’ll pass through and have the set menu. Quite often this will be all that’s offered, but it’s almost always cheap, filling and very tasty. Being a vegetarian can be a trial in France as its traditional dishes generally are very meat-oriented, and they can even put off the most staunch of meat-eaters (frog, horse or snails, anyone?). The baking in France is to die for however – there are even laws governing baguettes that ensure freshness universally. Pain au chocolat are my complete favourite and are well worth getting hold of from a bakery while in France.
Road laws in France are overall quite similar to those in the UK, and generally driving standards aren't too bad...until you go to Paris. For the rest of France you shouldn't get caught out, however speed cameras are often hard to see with little warning, so be warned. Filtering is generally tolerated, and on motorways cars often actively move out of your way - most French bikers seem to put their hazards on while doing this, so to be seen early and understood it's probably a good idea to follow suit. Paris, as mentioned before, isn't quite the same. It's completely accepting of filtering, however it'll probably be some of the most hectic riding of your life - I do not recommend the Arc d'Triomphe for the faint hearted. The fastest speed limit you'll find is 130km/h on toll roads, but don't be tempted to go nuts on the quiet sections as the tolls themselves give an average speed check. Beyond dual carriageways a lot of speed limits are now down to 80km/h in an attempt to improve road safety (and it also makes toll roads more attractive for speed – coincidence?), while towns are 50km/h unless otherwise signposted. Be aware of signposted reduced speed limits for when it’s raining too.
If you break down on a toll road you’ll need to call via an emergency phone for recovery to somewhere RAC/AA etc. can come get you – ensure you get a receipt for this to reclaim it from your recovery company if payment doesn’t go via them initially. Depending on where you’re going you may need to buy a ‘Crit Air’ sticker – effectively an emissions tax for entering certain areas of certain cities – read here for more details. With regards to what to take, motorcyclists are required to have a hi-vis vest for each rider with them in event of a break down, as well as several documents. To cover yourself in all eventualities you should take your licence, insurance certificate, passport, V5 registration and EHIC. Making copies isn’t a bad idea either for emergencies. Breathalysers are not required as you will not be punished if you don’t have them with you – the law is still extant, but the fines are no more. Reflective stickers on helmets are a sticky (pun intended) subject as it’s a little bit of a minefield. To be on the safe side you can put them on, but I’ve personally never heard of anyone being pulled over because of it, and, frankly, if you behave yourself you won’t have issues. The proper stickers aren’t meant to be removable either which is even more of an argument to not bother with them! You also need either a numberplate with a GB symbol on it, or a GB sticker visible on the rear of the bike. A first aid kit is generally a solid addition to any touring too.
Overall, France is a decent place to ride a bike, you just need to be more aware of some of the regulations surrounding motorcycling. For some it’ll be simply a country to cross to get somewhere else via toll roads, but it does have a lot to offer and is unique in itself, and so well worth at least some exploring beyond a service station!
This is likely going to be the final blog covering different countries’ motorcycling laws, however if there are any countries (preferably within Europe) that any reader would want covering, don’t hesitate to leave a comment on social media or on here giving your suggestions. Likewise, if there are any topics or questions you may have, please let us know.
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date on events happening at Bike Stop throughout the year, drop by to have a chat, have a delicious Lavazza coffee and a cake, or view our large motorcycle gear range.
