Space shared slowly. Since Monday, the municipality of Amiens, in the Somme, has been much less conciliatory with the speeding bicycles and scooters when driving in the city centre. If the presence of cyclists and users of motorized personal transport devices (EDPM) is always authorized in the pedestrian area, they will nevertheless have to ride at a walk or risk receiving a fine which can be very high.
The city assumes that when you ride a bike or scooter in a pedestrian area, “we are not in a video game” as underlined by the slogan of the communication campaign launched on Monday. At the entrances to the pedestrian area in the center, markings on the ground and the affixing of stickers indicate that from this limit, anything that does not work must now move slowly. In other words, adapt to the speed of the step, that is to say a maximum of 6 km/h.
From 35 to 1,500 euros fine
“Regularly, checks relating to the good practice of cycling and EDPM as well as the control of their equipment and speed will be carried out in the pedestrian zone, and the offenders fined”, specifies the city in a press release. And the amount of these fines is between 35 and 135 euros, or even 1,500 euros for a device “flashed” at more than 25 km / h.
On social networks, the measure is rather well received. For some, the city could even go further: “If you could also communicate on the fact that sidewalks are not roads, that would be great! “says Laurent. “We should ban bicycles and scooters in pedestrian areas,” insists Francis. Other users believe that the problem is elsewhere. Xavier suggests: “An idea! Make suitable tracks! “At a time when all the cities in Europe are promoting the development and practice of cycling, this disastrous signal proves that Amiens has other priorities,” laments Etienne.