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!

Pat-<BR> We just returned from Paris and we saw people rollerblading in the Metro. I am not sure how they managed the stairs but it didn't appear to slow them down. Have fun.

Pat,<BR>I rollerbladed with my husband on the Friday night event, and had lots of fun. We are by no means super athletes. Also on Sundays, the quais by the river are closed to cars, and we always go rollerblading on Sundays. Also we rented velos, and did the Sunday thing--enjoyed that more.

Topping for Giovanna.

GO FOR IT!

Hi Pat,<BR><BR>I just returned from Paris late last night, and I saw rollerbladers everywhere! Especially since you're not a beginner, I can't imagine you would have any problems. I even saw rollerblades on the metro.<BR><BR>Jennifer

About a month ago on the Travel Channel they had the Top 10 Best of... Paris. Rollerblading came in near the top of the list. Friday night was for more experienced riders. Sunday was for beginners and-or families. Have fun!

actually, oddly enough, the past 3-4 times I've been to Paris recently I've seen a LOT of rollerbladers. or maybe there's just a reason I would notice them - but they seem to be everywhere.<BR><BR>I had also heard of the Friday night phenom but didn't think we'd ever come across them..<BR><BR>and one time, I was taking two friends who had NEVER been to Paris before... we had just left the Eiffel Tower, it was nearly midnight as I recall, and as we were looking to hail a cab ALL OF A SUDDEN this huge horde of rollerbladers whizzed by like rolling thunder.. we stood there for ages watching them go by - my friend Glenn was transfixed & completely bummed that he wasn't able to join them.<BR><BR>Beth

i think rollerblading is a great idea. the other day on the travel channel they had the top 10 things to do in paris. On their list was rollerblading. check their website for their list.

where can one rent rollerblades in paris?
im not great at rollerblading but i saw this on tv one night and have heard about it and looks like great fun...any more info would be appreciated,,,i will be in paris next Friday, staying in the Latin Quarter...

http://www.pari-roller.com/?lang=en

Check out the above link Wildfire.

regards Ger

One of the sights I really enjoyed on our trip last year was all the policeman around the Louvre on rollerblades. I thought what a great idea!

Wildfire - this statement was made in a link to NYTimes in another post:

A good place to rent skates is Nomades, 37, boulevard Bourdon in the Fourth, starting at $6.25 for a half day; (33-1) 54.44.94.44, www.nomadeshop.com.

Check out travel section in Sunday's edition of NY Times.

rollers-coquillages.org
that is the site for the Sunday skate.

[email protected]
this is the email for the Friday skate.

both responded to request for information very quickly and most friendly. the Friday skate appears to be for advanced skaters, though they say everyone is welcome. Also, the sunday skate is in the afternoon, so the metro is still open.

Im very excited about trying this, should be great fun

In Sunday's NYT's is an update about happenings in Paris and it specifically mentioned the 10 pm rollerblade group that starts at Montparness...the close the roads...and everyone is herded along by the police
I saw one on a Sunday afternoon in the 6th...I found it amazing...Cops on skates...little kids, youngsters with blue hair and tattoos and really really old folks... everyone!

Here's another place that rents rollers for about 12 euro a day, it's near Invalides.

http://www.bikenroller.fr/

I used to know one in the Latin Qtr but can't remember it right now.

You can rollerblade every Sunday along the Quai Pompidou as they shut this off to cars and only rollerbladers, strollers, skateboarders can use it.

Also, Place d'Italie has a meeting point for a large rollerblading community on Friday nights starting late, around 10.30 pm or so.

There are up to few thousand rollerbladers on a good night! All police escorted.