I am reading that all of the silly laws such as breathalyser, high vis and such are all abolished or not in effect anymore... I'm going to France on 26th December... Can someone please tell me what this onion faced country require me to do so I can legally ride on their roads? Thanks
nothing. I've been 3 times this year. Never needed anything. On my bike that is. Cant say about car. Just ride on the other side. Look left at roundabouts. Tis easy. Riding in France is much more relaxed and sensible than over here. Have fun. Keep visa handy for toll roads. They're cheap. Keep eye on fuel riding on a holiday. They're not so bad on the autoroutes and nationals but get onto the department roads which are the best and you might struggle. Don't speed in towns and villages and the French don't care what you do in-between. Its a very enlightened country. I love the place. Enjoy
I've been told you need to put both feet down at stop junctions. But hopefully that's another silly one they're getting rid of.
Check the AA website for what you need.I took a complete bulb set,hi viz,log book,both parts of your driving licence, insurance docs and some rizzla sized stickers for my helmet.What out for the speed cameras in towns which are zero tolerance and very stealthy however the locals like to paint warnings on the tarmac to advise.Fuel is expensive and sometimes difficult to find on Sundays and festive times.Enjoy.
I agree with Bootsam. You don't really need to do anything. I am continually in France and just treat it as an extension of Switzerland. I take an ID (which is in my wallet already) and some €. That's it. No hi-vis, breathalysers or any of that nonsense. There's nothing much to know. Don't speed in places where you think you might get caught (like anywhere else, really). You will find motorists are much friendlier and more courteous to bikes than in the UK. Good news is that they seem to have switched over many of their unmanned petrol pumps from only accepting the Carte Bleu to now accepting Maestro and Visa, so filling up on Sundays, lunchtimes and evenings is now a whole lot easier. You will find petrol pumps quite far and few between compared to the UK (or Switzerland).
I agree with most of the above, you don't need any of that silly stuff, but it is a bloody good idea to carry a copy of your V5 with you. If you get stopped, they will immediately ask for your papers, and if the bike therefore belongs to you and you have just been a little rude on speed, as long as you are contrite and have your papers, they will often let you off. Not having papers escalates things quite quickly. On the other hand, I think the policing is increasing. I got nicked twice last year in one run through France, and I have been riding there for years. First time, way over the limit, but with papers, and got a "please slow down" and I rode off. Second time I wasn't so lucky and got a 90 euro fine for the volume of the exhaust. It was either that or get the bike impounded. Proper tosser that copper was. When I asked for a receipt for my 90 euro, it got a bit testy, but I insisted so that I didn't just pay one bribe and then get nicked by his mate half a mile down the road for another. It's still not England..... But it's not as liberal/dodgy as Italy! But generally the riding is good, road surfaces are excellent, the roads are not heavily policed and the traffic is light. It's a night and day improvement over riding in the UK, even if there is an odd back hander......
Ah yes papers. The garage I bought my bike from has still not sorted paperwork out 6 weeks later... I've got my little part. I need to call them and get them to sort it out. But thanks for the heads up. Looking forward to it. Think I will go along Northern France for a bit, stop off in Lille for brunch. Keep going then head up north into Belgium. Once there, head over to Ghunte eventually, check into a hostel, head out for a meal and a beer. Then get home to the misses before the party starts the next day so my balls are not pressed in the vice lol.
Living in Germany we regularly travel back and forth to the uk. As said in the previous post it is more a case of just using your head. BUT i have also known guys that have had an immediate on the spot ban which is a tad awkward as the guy then had to get home via holland. and also a high fine (900 euro) With the bike being impounded till someone else can collect it and legally ride it or take it away. But saying that it is a case of don't go silly cause when they do hit you, It will be with a big stick. BBC News - French police step up watch on British drivers
Useful guide here http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/m...d/pdf/Motorcycle-Booklet-Brittany-Ferries.pdf
I'm not sure I'd go to Lille. I've never been, so maybe it's marvellous, but I was always under the impression that it is the closest to what the French do for an industrial town. In fact, if I was out to ride my bike, I'd avoid big towns altogether. If you do head in, remember that if nothing is marked, it's "priorité à droite" - traffic from the right has priority. That can catch people out. There you are on a main road and assume you have right of way. Well, you may not, so assume nothing.
Priorite a droit died years ago - only some of the older folks haven't been informed yet, so be aware. And yes, Lille is pretty industrial, but I'm sure you can find a little beauty if you delve deep enough into the heart of the town. Talking of which, if you plan to visit towns, don't stay on the outskirts, book a central hotel for a few quid more. Almost all in France have safe bike parking, and you're always planted in the traditional heart of the town, where any worthy sights are to be seen. Book hotels out of the centre, and you'll invariably end up on an industrial estate with only an overpriced Nandos clone for company.
Not so. What has happened in recent years is that the French have added a lot of Give Way signs and generally cleared up the priorité à droite issue. But it still exists. You will see the sign below before you come to roundabouts or some junctions and particularly when you are entering towns. It means "you no longer have priority" and that means the priority defaults to the right. it's a similar situation here in Switzerland, especially in villages with crossroads. The traffic coming from the right has priority. If there is nothign marked to the contrary, this is where the priority lies.
Thanks for the input guys. No doubt it will come in handy. As for places to stop off. I will probably just find somewhere small. The large towns are just for reference. As for hotel, I will be staying in a hostel in Ghent, Belgium.
Last time I went to Belgium we stayed in a little town called Bouillon. Very picturesque, with an ancient chateau-fort with falconry and owl training, scenic walks, babbling brook, that kind of thing. The town is geared up for winter game hunting, so as a result it's quiet and cheap in the summer. The place is surrounded by cracking roads, too.
