🚫 The sign prohibiting bicycles: On this path, no bicycles!
Let's start with the B9b sign (we're technical, but we'll give you pictures, don't worry 😉 ). This sign isn't there to annoy cyclists, but rather for their safety. It is often planted at the entrance to freeways and expressways, where the most reckless of cyclists would prefer to avoid venturing 🛣️.
In town, this sign is also making its appearance, especially near road tunnels, designed for cars to squeeze through, not bikes. Cohabitation between bikes and cars is like a cat and a dog in one basket: it can work, but each needs its own space 🐱🐶.
🚲 The compulsory cycle track or cycle lane sign: When riding becomes a joyful duty
The sign, officially named B22a, isn't there for decoration. It's a clear message: "Dear cycling friends, this lane is your kingdom, and here, not even pedestrians are welcome". It's a sort of blue carpet rolled out especially for bikes, far from the lanes frequented by cars and other motorized machines 🚗.
Mind you, this isn't just a suggestion. When the B22a makes its appearance, it's an obligation to commit to it. 🧭
And when the bike path adventure comes to an end? When the B40 sign appears! It announces the end of this mandatory prescription. You can then resume your freedom as a cyclist, exploring other roads and paths 🌄.
🛣️ The recommended cycle lane sign: A suggestion for pressure-free cycling
Unlike its cousin the B22a, which guides you towards an obligation, the C113 is more into friendly advice. It's there to tell you that, if you want to ride quietly, without rubbing shoulders with cars, it's this way 🌿.
And when the episode on this recommended route comes to an end, the C114 sign comes into play. Similar to the C113 but crossed out with a red line, it lets you know that the suggested bike lane is coming to an end.
🛑 M12 signs, yield signs for cyclists : Stop or not?
The M12 sign is a godsend for cyclists. It gives them the green light (well, in a manner of speaking! 😅 ) to continue on their way, even when the light is red. Provided, of course, that they give way to all other road users (it's not a question of putting themselves in danger, at any price🚦.
No more endless waiting at red lights if the intersection is deserted. It's a little extra for the smooth flow of bike traffic, a time-saver that, if nothing else, makes traveling by bike even cooler. 😎
🚲 The traffic sign for the Cycle category: You are concerned, yes, you!
We've moved on from the M12 to the M4d1, the little genius of signs, which is actually more of a signpost. This clever little rectangle is the cyclist's personal assistant in urban environments 🏙️. It doesn't brag, but it does an incredible job.
You always see it under another sign to indicate that it also concerns cyclists. A prohibition, a signpost, a parking area... the M4d1 can in theory be placed under any sign intended basically for vehicles (good review of your highway code! 😜).
👥 Zone de rencontre : Where everyone meets, on foot or by bike.
The "zone de rencontre", codified B52, is a kind of convivial city lounge, where pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles mingle in urban harmony 🌆. Imagine a square where everyone, from the early-morning jogger to the cyclist, from the dreamy pedestrian to the cautious driver, shares the space in peace.
The B52 sign, recognizable by its trio of pictograms (a pedestrian, a cyclist and a vehicle) is a welcome sign in a space where the speed limit is 20 km/h. 🚶♂️🚴♀️🚗
And when it's time to say goodbye to this meeting zone, the B33 sign, sister to the B52 but crossed out with a red line, signals that you're returning to a more usual cruising speed. 👌
🚫 Direction sign prohibited except for bicycles: Contresens permis, pour un trajet raccourci
The M9v2 is something of a road sign spy. It looks like a classic one-way sign, round and red with a white bar, but it holds a secret: it allows bicycles to proceed legally in this contraflow 🕵️♂️
This sign is a gift for urban cyclists. It allows them to explore city streets from a different angle, discover shortcuts and shorten their journeys. It's a small revolution in the art of city navigation, breathing new life into the 🌬️ cycling experience.
The M9v2 is often accompanied by floor markings, a sort of red carpet for cyclists, clearly indicating that they are in the right lane (reassuring if a car is coming in front! 😅).
↔️ Double-sens cyclable: Riding safely against the current
Meet the C24a, that square sign on a blue background, with an arrow pointing one way for cars and the other for bikes. It's a bit like the Yin and Yang of signage, harmonizing two seemingly opposite flows 🚗🚴.
Far from the anarchy some might fear, these two-way cycle lanes are a well-orchestrated ballet. On the contrary, they are not the scene of frequent accidents. They encourage motorists to take their foot off the accelerator, bringing greater safety and fluidity to the streets. 🧘
🚷 Impasse sauf piétons et cycliste : L'aventure au bout du chemin
C13d is the secret whisper of the city streets, telling you, "Hey, if you're biking or walking, this way to the surprise!" 🚴♀️🚶♂️.
For cars, it's a dead end, but for cyclists and pedestrians, it's a passageway to new discoveries, a secret path to unexplored treasures.
This sign is a reminder that cities are also playgrounds for those who explore at a more human pace, by bike or on foot. It's a nod to sustainable tourism, where every street corner can become a discovery. 🍃
🌳 The Voie verte sign: Nature's escape on two wheels
The C115 is no ordinary sign. It's an invitation to forsake the tumult of engines for the song of birds, to swap asphalt for paths, to replace horns with the whisper of wind in the leaves 🐦. These greenways, dedicated to pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles, are corridors of tranquility, havens of peace where time seems to slow down.
And when the journey on this lane comes to an end, the C116 sign, similar to the C115 but crossed out with a red bar, gently reminds you that you're re-entering the faster, noisier world. 🏙️
PS: All images used in this article are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
