Scooters in Paris
 

I'm taking my adult son to Paris this summer. Anyone ever rented motorized scooters for sightseeing in and out of the city? Where to rent and how much?

I have never rented one and would advise against it due to the traffic in Paris. The metro is so easy to use one doesn't a vehicle IMHO. Depending on where your staying you probably can walk to many major tourist attractions.

As a dedicated motorcyclist, I would strongly recommend it: everytime I have foreign friends in town in the summertime, I take them for a ride on either of the Voies Express by the banks of the Seine, and believe me, it's an experience they never forget. Public transport is fine in the winter, but in the summer it gets stifling hot and overcrowded with tourists. There are several renting agencies, do a search on www.pagesjaunes.fr under "Location de motocycles". CIMO, in the 18th, is one outfit, there is another one close to Gare de Lyon in the 12th. The rent normally includes a helmet (customary in France), an anti theft bar, and gloves. But beware: Parisian traffic might need some getting used to, park the scooter in a secure place overnight, and the rental is not cheap (because of the included theft insurance). But, IMHO, it's worth every penny ! In France, with a car driving licence that's more than one year old, you may drive a scooter up to 125 cc.

I'm not a dedicated motorcyclist, so I can't see it, either, but know a couple places that rent.<BR><BR>Motorail is probably the place Vincent is thinking of near Gare de Lyon www.motorail.fr,<BR><BR>Atelier de la Compagnie is near Gare de Montparnasse<BR>www.atelier-de-la-compagnie.com<BR><BR>There's a place Free-Scoot in the Bastille area on bd Voltaire www.sejem.com<BR><BR>Note that aside from costs of about 25-50 euro per day, they seem to require deposits of about 1500-3000 euro.

Riding a motorcycle in Paris is perfectly safe. Only pedestrians who insist on using the same sidewalks are at risk.<BR><BR>O.K., that was (partly) in jest, although I am always amazed by the number of scooters that roar down the wider sidewalks along the Seine and elsewhere<BR><BR>I agree with Vincent. Paris would be fun to see on a cycle so long as you are already a good cyclist and used to city riding. I would not try to learn how to ride on Paris streets.<BR><BR>Paris is often congested, but that is often advantageous to motorcyclists. Paris also has its share of reckless and erratic drivers so there is some risk but I think that it would be worth it so long as you are an experienced rider. I would rather ride a motorcycle in Paris than drive a car.<BR><BR>Weekends, especially mornings, would be especially fun when the streets are often wide open.<BR><BR>I tried bicycling in Paris and it wasn't so hot. Many of the streets/lanes are just too narrow and cars just ram by with little regard for defenseless bicyclists. Odd for a country that supposedly worships bicycles, but that is probably just city life for you.

D. Phinney, have you returned to Paris lately? Our new (since March 2001) mayor is giving its Green allies in the City Council proofs of his environmental commitment, by adding tens of kilometres of wide, sheltered, cycle lanes - where engine-powered vehicles are not accepted. This means that most of the time these lanes remain empty, but that's all the better for the &quot;push-bikers&quot; .