Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking

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For all the pedal pushers out there that love long distance cycling. There are no gear requirements and no 'minimum distances' here.

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I got a €90 fine from police in paris (self.bicycle_touring)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by retrolasered to c/[email protected]

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Was cycling one of those small access roads that straddle the very large main roads. There was a wall between that and the main road. A police van and fire engine were blocking the road, and it was cordoned off with tape. I went on the pavement, very slowly, walking pace. But the municipal police stopped me and asked for my passport. I didnt know what was going on so I just gave it to them, I should have said I dont have it with me. So they fined me. I dont really know the rules in paris, I asked them but they didnt explain them to me. My travel companion did the exact same thing as me, but wasnt fined. I feel like it was entrapment a little bit. Also, it took a while, so I smoked a cigarette, knowing this policeman was an arse I knew better than to toss the butt on the floor. But I had to put the thing out on the floor rather than my own bare skin, and the bastard tried to fine me for that even as a was putting the butt in mp pannier pocket.

I have a really long and complicated address through living in a tower block in london, and the guy seemed to struggle with logging it and it seemed like he eventually gave up on his third attempt to write it, as I spelled it very fast trying to blur as much detail in my accent, he said I have your name thats enough. So hopefully I dont even receive the fine. But I think I am considering not paying it, since im not french, and that guy was an arsehole.

Has anyone been fined in france? is it the kind of thing that will make it difficult to come back here if I dont pay it?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Hmm. That's unfortunate you ran into such a strict cop. I guess if the fine actually reaches you, i think i would pay. Because if you're from uk they check your name at the border i'd assume and i wouldn't want any border drama if i went back into france. Not sure how you are being checked at the border. I got sent a parking ticket once from the netherlands and paid it.

I got called out by cops yesterday too for riding confused on the sidewalk, looking at the gps here in Zaragoza. They called me "caballero", haha. No fine though.

[–] retrolasered 0 points 6 months ago

Yeah bad luck I guess. My route companion got away with a warning from the guys colleague even though neither of us speak french. I would have much preferred an insult than a fine