In recent years, France has clearly shifted gears to promote soft mobility. The result: bike lanes are multiplying and transforming our cities. This urban revolution has led to a real boom in electric bikes, which have become the darlings of city dwellers. Through these lines, we take stock of the cycling challenge in France.
The Cycling Challenge: building a two-wheeled France
Since the launch of the Bike Plan in 2018, France has seen its cycling facilities multiply rapidly. Between the Covid-19 booster effect and the implementation of Low Emission Zones (ZFE) in major cities, electric bike use has become widely popular. As a result, more and more French people choose e-bikes daily, encouraged by infrastructure designed for their safety and comfort.
Key figures of cycling development in France
In 2022, no less than 2,638 kilometers of bike lanes were created in France, adding to the 56,000 km already existing. The national goal is clear: to reach 80,000 km by 2027, then 100,000 km by 2030.
This growth in infrastructure is accompanied by a spectacular increase in usage: since 2019, cycling traffic has increased by more than 40%, and e-bikes now represent a growing share of trips made. An ideal context to boost cycling, especially in urban areas.
The major cities where it’s great to ride an electric bike
Some French metropolises have become true paradises for cyclists. Paris continues to expand its "coronapistes" created during the pandemic, Lyon plans an additional 250 km by 2026, and Strasbourg, long a pioneer, maintains its leadership with a dense and connected network. Nantes, for its part, invests heavily in pedestrian and cycling zones.
Ideal conditions to adopt an electric bike, and at Weebot, you will find models perfectly suited to these new urban playgrounds.
Why does the electric bike directly benefit from these cycling facilities?
The success of the urban electric bike is no accident. The explosion of cycling infrastructure in recent years plays a key role in this dynamic. By facilitating trips and enhancing user safety, these facilities encourage more and more residents to leave their cars in the garage and adopt an electric bike.
More safety and comfort for electric bike users
Since the 2018 Bike Plan, France has massively invested in dedicated bike lanes, greenways, and express routes, often separated from car traffic. These facilities significantly reduce accident risks and improve cyclists’ daily comfort.
By avoiding traffic jams and high-traffic areas, e-bike users now enjoy smoother, more pleasant, and safer trips. It is noted that 74% of urban cyclists feel safer than five years ago, a figure that has risen sharply, notably thanks to continuous bike lanes and redesigned intersections.
This evolution makes electric biking not only more accessible but also more reassuring for those who were still hesitant to take the plunge.
Boost effect on electric bike adoption in cities
This favorable environment has mechanically boosted the market. Between 2020 and 2023, electric bike sales in France jumped by 43%, with more than 738,000 units sold in 2023 according to the Union Sport & Cycle. We have collected several testimonials from city dwellers charmed by the simplicity and pleasure of using e-bikes for their daily trips.
Many mention time savings on commuting, the ability to avoid crowded public transport, and the incomparable comfort of new-generation electric bikes. All reasons that push cities and users to accelerate this transition.
Which electric bike to choose to enjoy the new bike lanes?
With the development of bike lanes in both city centers and suburbs, it becomes essential to choose the electric bike best suited to your needs. Whether you ride in a dense urban center or on long peri-urban greenways, some models stand out for their comfort, safety, and autonomy.
The most suitable urban models at Weebot
If you are looking for an electric bike for your daily trips, Weebot offers several models designed for the city. The Granville E-Urban city electric bike is a must-have: maneuverable, lightweight, and equipped with progressive assistance, it ensures smooth riding in urban traffic. Its central motor and integrated battery offer excellent balance and comfortable autonomy for commuting.
Another reference to consider: the Superior EXR electric bike range. Designed for commuting and weekend rides, these e-bikes combine a comfortable riding position with high-end equipment. Its powerful braking system and integrated lighting guarantee your safety, even in low-light conditions.
Criteria to prioritize for safe riding
To fully enjoy the new cycling infrastructure, certain technical criteria should be prioritized. Choose an electric bike equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, a guarantee of responsiveness and control. Good front and rear lighting is essential to remain visible at all times. For tires, choose reinforced models capable of absorbing lane irregularities and avoiding punctures. Finally, ensure sufficient autonomy, especially if you make daily trips of several kilometers.
Cycling infrastructure in major French cities: a rapidly expanding network
Urban cycling challenges are now at the heart of mobility policies in France. Each major city deploys its own cycling plan to build a secure, connected, and continuous cycling network adapted to the needs of electric bike users. Whether it is to strengthen a cycling connection between neighborhoods or create new structuring bike lanes, these facilities are transforming the way people move around cities.
Cycling in Annecy: a cycling framework adapted for all cyclist profiles
The cycling network in Annecy is rapidly expanding, supported by an ambitious cycling plan that foresees more than 400 km of cycling routes by 2030. Thanks to an adapted cycling framework, the city focuses on the continuity of bike lanes to efficiently connect the city center, residential areas, and activity hubs. This Alpine cycling network promotes soft and accessible mobility, even on more technical terrain.
Cycling in Nantes: a pioneering city with a structuring cycling network
Cycling development in Nantes is based on a structuring master cycling plan. The goal: 640 km of interconnected bike lanes in the metropolitan area. Nantes’ cycling plan focuses on major, safe, and direct cycling routes, allowing quick cycling connections between main urban axes and peri-urban areas. It is a strong example of responding to urban cycling challenges.
Cycling in Paris: an increasingly dense cycling network in the heart of the capital
Paris continues to deploy its cycling plan with more than 180 km of new bike lanes planned by 2026. The famous "coronapistes," integrated into the Parisian cycling network, initiated a profound transformation of public space. The capital focuses on a complete cycling connection between districts to make cycling routes smoother, safer, and more attractive for daily cyclists.
Cycling in Rouen: a city structuring its cycling network for the future
In Rouen, the cycling plan is organized around a secure and continuous cycling network aimed at facilitating commuting trips. The challenge: to make each bike lane coherent with the entire urban grid. Thanks to an adapted cycling framework, Rouen works to fill route gaps and strengthen the cycling connection between the left and right banks of the city.
Cycling in Lille: a rapidly expanding cycling network serving users
The cycling network in Lille is regularly enriched with urban and intermodal cycling routes. The Lille metropolitan cycling plan aims to create a smooth cycling connection between dense neighborhoods, university campuses, and economic zones. Each newly developed bike lane strengthens a cycling framework adapted to cyclists’ needs, with calm zones and clear signage.
Cycling in Rennes: a model of express cycling network
Rennes is developing an ambitious express cycling network with more than 500 km of cycling routes planned by 2030. Thanks to this large-scale cycling plan, the city intends to offer a fast cycling connection between metropolitan municipalities and the city center. This structuring cycling network addresses urban cycling challenges by guaranteeing safety, efficiency, and attractiveness for regular cyclists.
FAQ
How to find the best cycling route in my city?
Most major cities now offer dedicated maps or apps to visualize the local cycling network. In Paris, Nantes, Rennes, or Lille, you can consult online platforms or use apps like Geovelo, Komoot, or Google Maps in "bike" mode. These tools include bike lanes, cycling connections between neighborhoods, and secure cycling routes. They are valuable for avoiding dangerous or undeveloped roads.
Are all bike lanes secure?
No, not all bike lanes are equal. Some are protected (separated from traffic) and others are shared (without physical separation). The safest are often two-way separated lanes or express cycling routes on the outskirts. Check that the cycling connection is continuous and that there are no interruptions or conflict zones with cars, especially at intersections.
What to do if my route does not offer a cycling network?
In some areas, especially on the outskirts or in less advanced cities like Rouen or some neighborhoods in Lille, the cycling network may be incomplete. You can:
• identify quiet streets without facilities but with low traffic,
• report the need for facilities via participatory platforms (like CartoVélo),
• use alternative cycling routes recommended by other users.
Municipalities regularly update their cycling plans, so your feedback can make a difference.
Conclusion on Cycling
Cycling infrastructure is profoundly transforming urban mobility. Thanks to secure lanes, greenways, and express facilities, the electric bike is establishing itself as a practical and pleasant solution for your daily trips. This dynamic not only encourages more cyclists but also promotes the sale of models increasingly adapted to urban uses.
To make the most of this equipment, choose an e-bike that matches your trips and needs. Discover now the selection of urban and folding electric bikes on Weebot and find the ideal model for your two-wheeled adventures!