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    How to Ride Bikes Safely in Paris



    With all the new bike lanes in Paris, it’s important to know some of the tricks and tips to riding safely around Paris. Help me make better videos at http://patreon.com/jayswanson and then find me on the internet in all of the usual spots:

    Get a copy of my book on how I got to Paris here: https://jayswanson.me/sea-of-the-unknown
    Grab my guide to Paris here: http://bit.ly/ParisVloggersGuide
    Grab my hat or some Gustave swag here: http://bit.ly/SwansonSwag

    Sign up for the newsletter here: https://jayswanson.me/newsletter
    And read the ones that came before in the archive: http://bit.ly/JaysNewsletterArchive

    My gear list on Amazon (affiliate link fyi): http://bit.ly/JaysGearList

    Follow me here:

    http://instagram.com/jayswanson
    http://instagram.com/jayswanson.store
    https://wlo.link/@jayswanson

    Music by: Sir Nicolas, J(X), and BillsBeatz
    Patron Producer: Timothy Gotrich

    Bike Tours of Paris with Bike About Tours: http://bit.ly/BikeAboutToursJay

    My name is Jay Swanson – I’m an American writer living in Paris on an artist visa and hoping to make the city of light my home base – at least for the foreseeable future. I write science-fiction and fantasy, vlogged daily for 3+ years, and love pizza a little too much.

    Links below to Amazon are affiliate links – meaning if you click through them and buy something, I’ll get some pennies. Thanks! (The FTC wants me to tell you that up front)

    FAQ:
    How long have you lived in France? Over four years now, holy cow.

    What do you miss most about ho- NACHOS

    You’re always talking about living on some ship. WHAT SHIP? – I made a “Draw My Life” video that explains a lot here: https://youtu.be/-MrvL37jTKM

    Where are you from originally? – Pullman, Washington – a small university/agricultural town near Idaho (and yes, the potatoes are amazing).

    What do you film with? – I’ve made a lot of changes recently, but I try to keep my gear list up to date if you want to see what I use and buy some for yourself: http://bit.ly/JaysGearList

    What do you edit with? – Adobe Premiere – it’s pretty much all I’ve ever used since high school.

    Aren’t you ever freaked out by leaving your camera behind to film yourself? – Yep. But not too badly – I tend to be careful when I do.

    Why are you living in #Paris? – Because I’ve always wanted to; I feel at home here: https://youtu.be/4Vivf6MqMxQ

    Do you speak French? – Oui. https://youtu.be/va1QjaHgij8

    Do you make money off YouTube? – Ha, sorta. I wish. It took me over 500 videos to make my first total $100 off adsense. I think it will slowly change, but VERY slowly.

    I really enjoy your videos, how can I support you? – The easiest and best way to support me is through Patreon, where you can pitch in as little as $5/mo to help me make better videos: http://patreon.com/jayswanson

    I don’t trust this Patreon thing – can I just paypal you? – Here’s my ko-fi if that’s your thing (and coffee is your game): https://ko-fi.com/jayswanson

    But I want to send you something tangible! – I do have a wishlist on Amazon, though it’s a bit complicated with the international shipping situation. So instead people often drop off or ship things to the Peloton Cafe in Paris for me.

    Thanks for watching!

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    41 Comments

    1. @Nubianette on

      This was great, and I watched it twice! My feet are failing me, and will just start to hurt before I’m ready to stop exploring. So, I know I’ll be switching to biking instead of walking. Crazy, I’ve been to Copenhagen 8 times, but I’ve never ridden a bike there.

    2. @roychastain2958 on

      I watched your "Live Edit" and wasn't sure how this would turn out. Great job! Smooth transitions and also very informative. Not sure I'll bike through Paris, but I learned the major rules and might try it. Thank you Jay.

    3. @neillambert8713 on

      Jay I am trying to buy one the 'gustave' cup and the checkout is going bonkers .Can i reset because i don't need( although i would like 4 of them.)
      This is Nicky Lambert ( neils wife ) and they look great for a christmas prezzy.

    4. @ellbcee on

      Back in January 2020 walking around Paris I very much wished I knew how to ride a bike because it would have been so convenient. This is making me wish more. Alas, I have some balance issues so I'd really need one of the adult tricycles at this point, I think.

    9. @jeanp4875 on

      This September, I spent a week riding all over Paris before going to Orleans to ride to Basel and beyond. I enjoyed the paths and got used to expecting the masses riding along main routes after work. I would get up early and explore until it got too hot to enjoy myself, then in the evening I would head out again. I checked my odometer just before starting my. Official Loire river and canal tour, turns out I put 75 miles on just riding around Paris. So much fun and the only training I got before riding the Loire.

    14. @jainthorne4136 on

      Last time I was in Paris I did three Bike About Tours and biking in Paris is fabulous! But the real joy came when there was a huge transportation strike and I was able to rent a bike from Bike About Tours for the whole day. Next time I come to Paris I will bike every single day. It's wonderful.

    20. @agyos on

      Wonderful to watch the live edit first, and then the polished product! I soooo love it when Jess appears…she’s loads of fun!

    22. @pathallam986 on

      On the plus side: cycling is good exercise, reduces carbon footprint, Parisians don't go in for daft lycra and ultra-streamlined helmets (fine for the Olympics or Tour de France, ridiculous on most other people).
      On the negative side: all kinds of two-wheelerists in Paris are a bloody menace to pedestrians: cyclists, scooterists (ie trottinettes), mopeds. They think the road belongs to them exclusively and run red lights all the time. One day I swear I am going to stop in the middle of the road while crossing and force someone to screech to a halt. They may even fall off.
      Sorry, rant over. Cycling is fine but for pedestrians in Paris the roads are no safer than before. Pedestrian visitors be warned.

    23. @Myjocalledlife on

      We’re planning a trip to Paris in June (we booked a bike tour with bike about tours and let them know you sent us) but we’re having trouble figuring out how we, as American tourist, can get a French health pass. Can you do a video that goes over how we can get that?

    33. @tgottrich on

      Hiya Jay – I started watching your live edit and skipped around in it without watching all the way through, so was pleasantly surprised to get the mention at the end of this, the finished product 🙂
      This is a great example of the kind of video that inspired me to sign up to support you, so thanks for the fun, fact-filled film!

    38. @james-p on

      I love cycling in Paris. I use the Vélib' bikes all the time – I linked my account to my Navigo pass so it's really easy to grab one and go, and then just put it back in the nearest bourne when I'm done. No worry about locking it up. Learning how to pick a good one does take some experience tho – getting stuck with a few bad ones taught me to check the tires and pull the brake handles first, then check the brakes right away after taking it out to make sure they work well and don't squeal atrociously. And of course check the battery level on the electric ones. If you put it right back you don't get charged. And of course putting it back all the way in! But I'm used to their idiosyncrasies now so they work great for me.

    39. @JH-ht8vr on

      I have recently stumbled across your videos and absolutely love them! As a cyclist from the US I'm intrigued (and a bit nervous) about all the signage, lanes, pedestrians, etc when I come over in the fall, so I'll check out a bike tour before going out on my own. Keep up the good work!!!! oh, by the way…what brand are those sweet sunglasses?

    40. @danielpedersen1688 on

      You can't turn right on red? wtf?, i didn't know that, is that only a French rule or is that for any eu country where they ride bikes? i live in Copenhagen and i always turn right on red when i'm on my bike no matter the situation. If too many cyclists are waiting on the right side to go straight i just overtake on them on the left to go to the right before it turns green and it's fine, i've never gotten into any trouble when doing that.

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