off the wall paris question
 

my husband and I like to rollerblade through cities and it has worked really well in places like DC/Philly/Buenos Aires. Can you rollerblade through paris? Is it acceptable?

Having been to Paris myself, I wouldn't suggest it. I don't think it would be taken well by most people there. It might also be hard to get on and off the metro with having to run up and down the stairs.<BR><BR>However, some others might have another opinion, so wait and see. That's just my thought on it.

Pat,<BR>Don't know if it is all year round, or if it even still occurs, but I remember reading several articles about the Friday Night rollerblading events that happen on the Champs Elysses. <BR><BR>Perhaps someone else has more recent info.

http://www.rollers-coquillages.org/html/fr/index.php<BR><BR>Unfortunately it's in French, but it mentions Friday night roller blading.<BR><BR>Last June in Paris I was walked east of the Metro Louvre stop. There was a paved area a block or so from the Metro stop that had inline skaters on it from morning through the evening.

Hello Pat,<BR><BR>Not an off the wall question at all. Many people rollerblade around Paris, usually younger ones of course. <BR><BR>If you are an accomplished rollerblader, you can rollerblade thought the streets of Paris with a police escort on Friday nights beginning I believe around 9:30 or 10:00 from the Place d'Italie in the 13th. There are usually about 5000 or so rollerbladers and they are followed by a group of bicyclers.<BR><BR>You might want to check out the official web-site at:<BR><BR>http://www.pari-roller.com<BR><BR>I run in Paris but I'm afraid I would kill myself trying to keep up with this group.<BR><BR>Let us know what you think.<BR><BR>Bonnes Vacances.<BR><BR>RJS

I remembered seeing something about this on the Paris tourist office site, so I looked it up on Google and here it is:<BR>http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/va/parimages/tendance_roll/<BR>It includes stuff about the Friday night rides from Place d'Italie as well as a lot of other stuff about rollerblading in Paris, which is apparently quite popular.

See.....I figured others might have another opinion. Now that this is mentioned, I do remember seeing people rollerblading in some of the squares. Sounds like it might not be a bad idea to bring along those rollerblades, after all.<BR><BR>Have fun!

Pat: We happened to see that rollerblade thing on a Friday evening in Montparnasse as we wanted to cross Blvd. Montparnasse to get back to our hotel. It was about 10 pm. Incredible. I am sure we had to wait about 10 minutes until all participants had passed. They are escorted by police and security staff and the speed was quite high. I suppose if you're proficient in that sport, it must be quite a thing.

I have a picture of a convoy of hundreds of rollerbladers in Paris, but it was during the day. There were also hundreds of motorcycles, some skateboards, and runners. I'm not sure what the special event was.<BR>I placed the picture online just for you:<BR>www.costumegoddess.com/paris_rlrbld.htm

In the more worker-bee neighborhoods, people actually rollerblade on the sidewalks as a form of transportation. They are REALLY good. There are SOME bike lanes in Paris, and I've seen rollerbladers zipping along. In the Bois(s), there are lots of paved paths, and rollerbladers use them cautiously.<BR><BR>The Friday night thing has the most bizarre sound, all those rollerblades zanging along....

Thanks for all the comments. The Friday night rollerblade "parade" sounds like a blast. I may not be able to keep up, but my husband will be really interested. It was good to hear that people use it as mode of transportation too because I would like to take a day or two to just blade around to see some of the "outdoor" sites. I keep shoes in a backpack in case I want to check out the indoor attractions. You can really get around and see a lot of things on your skates. Thanks for all the feedback.

Just stay off the sidewalks and obey traffic signs--most people already consider rollerbladers a nuisance, don't make it worse.

I seem to remember that similar "mass blading" takes place in San Francisco. They use the parking garages too!<BR><BR>Pat, the best tip I can give you is watch out for doggie doo! Paris streets & sidewalks are filled with it.

Thanks Randall (and others) for mentioning this. I remember when my girlfriend & I were in Paris in September of 1999. On our second night, a lovely warm Friday evening, we walked out onto the Pont des Arts where all kinds of people were having picnics. All of sudden we heard a tremendous commotion and looked south, toward the Academy Francaise, and saw a HUGE throng (mob? flock? pride?) of rollerbladers zooming along the street. And they kept coming and coming and coming. 5,000 doesn't seem unreasonable at all. It was pretty amazing to see.

I don't think I've seen a lot of people rollerblading in the streets in the main central areas of Paris, except for that Friday night thing. I have seen rollerbladers around La Defense and on the wide boulevards in the 11th arr -- bd Voltaire or Richard Lenoir. They were recreational, I think -- not using it for transportation.

My daughter, who lives in Paris, just went this past Sunday (March 24). She said there were 3000 people; it was insane! She has a friend who often attends the Friday night event which apparently is considered the more advanced session. The one on Sunday is definitely more leisurely.

I scanned above and did not see anyone mention that the quais are closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday afternoons. Instead, walkers, strollers, bikers, and skaters take 'em over. I'm sure you can find times and places to rollerblade according to your skill, by using common sense.

This is so interesting - one night in Paris several years ago (may have been a Friday night), we heard commotion outside of our hotel room right off blvd. St. Germain and lo-and-behold, an army of thousands of rollerbladers cruising down blvd. St. Germain! I have pictures of this amazing site too! They just took over, and it was a good 1/2 hour before the last straglers passed by. I guess it's a weekly event!

I am French and can tell you rollerblading is a very popular thing in Paris. You even have two organised rollerblading walks through Paris each week, one on Friday afternoon and one on Sunday afternoon, with policemen blocking the streets (there is really a lot of people each time).<BR>Have a good trip<BR>Aurelie

You can do it. Some Parisians do. Watch out for the poop!