After leaving Paris, we boarded the TGV (Trains à Grande Vitesse), France’s high-speed train system, for the two hour trip to Lyon, then to Villefranche-sur-Saône via the TER (Transport express régional). With a bit of downtime before rendevousing with French friends the next day, I explored Villefranche-sur-Saône’s active transportation infrastructure.
Villefranche-sur-Saône, located approximately 16 miles north of Lyon, is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France and the capital of the Beaujolais. With a population of 40,000 Villefranche-sur-Saône has much of the typical active transportation infrastructure seen throughout France, with a few unique accommodations. While bicycles were frequently spotted, e-scooters are also abundant, largely sharing the bicycle accommodations.
Beyond bicycle facilities, there were also non- infrastructure accommodations in place including numerous ‘Priorite A Droite’ (right of way) zones – smaller shared streets with lower speed limits (30 km per hour (18 miles per hour) was common) that prioritize cyclists and pedestrians.
While cycling infrastructure is my jam, Villefranche-sur-Saône also has notable landmarks, including the Collégiale Notre-Dame-des-Marais de Villefranche-sur-Saône.
adventureECO Cycling 