Paris rides to top of European rankings of cycling-friendly cities for children

In Amsterdam, traditionally seen as a haven of two-wheels travel, there are concerns about the rightwing government increasing motorway speeds and a declining tradition of child cycling

Paris benefitted from investments for the 2024 Olympics and a €250m initiative to build 180km of cycling lanes.

Paris was once notorious for speeding traffic and a parking technique involving gently nudging cars to squeeze into a spot — but now it has topped a European ranking of cycling-friendly cities for children, leaving Amsterdam in second place and Copenhagen in the dust.

Analysing 36 European cities in terms of their cycling infrastructure’s suitability for children, the report found the French capital had raced to the top thanks to investments for the 2024 Olympics and a €250m initiative to build 180km of cycling lanes under Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo.