The revolt after the astonishment. More than a thousand people according to the Prefecture demonstrated emotionally in Paris on Saturday, to demand an end to “motorized violence”, a few days after the death of a 27-year-old cyclist in the capital, and to demand measures to pacify coexistence between cyclists and motorists.
The participants, many of whom came by bike, gathered at Place de la République, in the center of Paris, under the slogans “less speed, more tenderness”, “walk or cycle, for peaceful streets”, “stop violence”. motorized vehicles”, or even “police officers, don’t let us down”.
“At some point, you have to calm down, the road belongs to no one and everyone”claims Véronique, who did not wish to specify her last name. “It could have been me, a car is a weapon»was outraged by this thirty-year-old, who travels around Paris every day on an electric bike for her concierge business, La fille à vélo.
“Paul is no longer here, but we are here”
“Motorized violence kills. We want the public authorities to really take up the subject”demanded Anne Monmarché, president of Paris en Selle, an association which campaigns to improve cycling conditions and claims a thousand members. “We must protect the most vulnerable. Paul is no longer here, but we are here”she added at the end of her speech, very moved.
She will be part of a delegation which will be received Monday afternoon by the Minister of Transport François Durovray. “The idea is to listen to the proposals of the associative actors representing cyclists with respect, in order to co-construct future policies together”his office told AFP.
Paul Varry, 27, an active member of the Paris en Selle association, died on the public highway on Tuesday, run over by a motorist with whom he had just had a dispute, on Boulevard Malesherbes, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The driver, a 52-year-old technical salesman, was indicted for murder and imprisoned.
Very long round of applause
Demonstrators in Paris observed a minute of silence at 5:45 p.m., the time the tragedy unfolded, followed by a very long round of applause. The victim’s mother who was present said she “in shock” and requested that the perpetrator be «around».
Gatherings also took place at the same time in front of the town halls of many other cities in France, at the call in particular of the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) and the association Better Travel by Bicycle.
In Nantes, around 300 people participated in the minute of silence in front of the town hall. “It’s an assassination for bodywork. We’re talking about it today, fortunately, but because it was in the middle of Paris. In the countryside for example there are many facts which remain invisible”lamented Arthur Desmidt, 29 years old, helmet on his head.
“We must stop considering the car as an extension of ourselves and overvalue it in everyday life”argued Barbara Delattre, high school teacher and member of the Nice à Vélo association, a city where nearly a hundred people observed a minute of silence for Paul Varry. In 2023, 226 cyclists died on the roads of France, exceeding the threshold of 200 deaths for the third consecutive year.
Source: www.liberation.fr
