Trip to Paris

17-09-2006, 11:02 PM

Hello,

Thinking of taking the bike over to Paris for a few days this month.

Any idea's what legal docs I need? (My insurance covers me fully comp in Europe and I have full RAC cover) and any other things you can think of?

Will be using the EuroTunnel, is it wise to book in advance or just as easy to pay on arrival? Price difference?

Cheers,
Darry.

18-09-2006, 12:14 AM

Make sure your RAC cover is European cover as the full cover only extends to Europe if you apply for it. You need to carry spare bulbs etc. in certain European countries but not sure what France requires. Never really took notice of the local peculiarities while I lived there. Be aware too with French roundabouts, if you're on it you have to give way to traffic coming onto it rather than you having right of way all the way round. Always amusing to sit at a bar on Place Saint George in Toulouse and watch tourists getting it wrong.

18-09-2006, 11:29 AM

Cheers bodybag,

I already knew about the priorite a droit rule... bloody stupid if you ask me and causes so many accidents.

I used to live in Paris, but never driven there, looking forward to going round the arc de triomphe, just for the hell of it, I've crossed it many times drunk on foot (I know stupid and dangerous), should be fun!

My RAC covers all over Europe, got full (inc Europe) at the Ally Pally.

D.

jrpdark · 18-09-2006, 12:10 PM

Err, not sure that you're correct there. I think prioritie a droite (which was a bloody stupid rule - you're right) was abolished some years ago in MOST cases, esp roundabouts. You will know this now when you approach a roundabout where it will say "Vous n'avez la prioritie" or some such. HOWEVER, it does still apply in some cases, worryingly some minor roads entering onto a major road, as I discovered on our summer hols this year when a Poogeot 205 shot out in front of us. I'm buggered if I know how to tell which do have priorite a droit though, so not much help.
All I can offer you is to do what I do, take it slow, look all around, and if in doubt, stop.
Good luck.

James
PS if you're a member of the RAC maybe they can advise? Or is that one of the "services" that has gone out of the window in the rush to garb cash from the customer...?

18-09-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrpdark

Err, not sure that you're correct there. I think prioritie a droite (which was a bloody stupid rule - you're right) was abolished some years ago in MOST cases, esp roundabouts. You will know this now when you approach a roundabout where it will say "Vous n'avez la prioritie" or some such. HOWEVER, it does still apply in some cases, worryingly some minor roads entering onto a major road, as I discovered on our summer hols this year when a Poogeot 205 shot out in front of us. I'm buggered if I know how to tell which do have priorite a droit though, so not much help.
All I can offer you is to do what I do, take it slow, look all around, and if in doubt, stop.
Good luck.

James
PS if you're a member of the RAC maybe they can advise? Or is that one of the "services" that has gone out of the window in the rush to garb cash from the customer...?

Hi James, Thanks for the info.

Regarding the "Priorite a droite rule", it was never abolished, but the rules changed for where it applies. Most places the rules are the same as in the UK including most roundabouts as you mentioned. There are still many areas, often in town where this stupid rule still applies, including the world busy roundabout "The Etoile" (arc de triomphe). Along a major road you will often see a yellow diamond shaped roadsign, this means "priorite a droit" does not apply.

I looked at the AA site and its very useful, and seems to answer most of my questions.

Here's the links if needed:
Compulsory Equipment > http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...t_june2006.doc
Motoring advice by country>http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...bycountry.html

jrpdark · 18-09-2006, 02:29 PM

Darry
Thanks for that - there's something I thought I knew but as it turns out didn't know at all!
Thanks for the tip on the yellow sign - I will look out for that next time I'm driving/riding in France.
Cheers
James

Tonio600 · 19-09-2006, 02:10 PM

Priorite a droite only applies when nothing else applies.
That's quite a basic rule. And it's needed for countryside roads where there is no road markings. It still exists in France.

Re. roundabout, most of them are like everywhere else, you've got the priority when you're in.

Place de l'Etoile is not quite a roundabout. I guess it works in a different way because the trafic is not like anywhere else. The same applies for the periph', priority is for people entering it, which is exactly the opposite of any double carrigeway or motorway. But once again, I guess the rule is in a way it suits better the trafic you can find there.

17-09-2006, 11:02 PM	#1
Darry Guest Posts: n/a	Trip to Paris Hello, Thinking of taking the bike over to Paris for a few days this month. Any idea's what legal docs I need? (My insurance covers me fully comp in Europe and I have full RAC cover) and any other things you can think of? Will be using the EuroTunnel, is it wise to book in advance or just as easy to pay on arrival? Price difference? Cheers, Darry.

18-09-2006, 12:10 PM	#4
jrpdark Upright Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith Bike: Other Ducati Posts: 75	Prioritie a Droite Err, not sure that you're correct there. I think prioritie a droite (which was a bloody stupid rule - you're right) was abolished some years ago in MOST cases, esp roundabouts. You will know this now when you approach a roundabout where it will say "Vous n'avez la prioritie" or some such. HOWEVER, it does still apply in some cases, worryingly some minor roads entering onto a major road, as I discovered on our summer hols this year when a Poogeot 205 shot out in front of us. I'm buggered if I know how to tell which do have priorite a droit though, so not much help. All I can offer you is to do what I do, take it slow, look all around, and if in doubt, stop. Good luck. James PS if you're a member of the RAC maybe they can advise? Or is that one of the "services" that has gone out of the window in the rush to garb cash from the customer...? __________________ ... and all because the lady loves....

18-09-2006, 02:29 PM	#6
jrpdark Upright Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith Bike: Other Ducati Posts: 75	Well you learn something new every day! Darry Thanks for that - there's something I thought I knew but as it turns out didn't know at all! Thanks for the tip on the yellow sign - I will look out for that next time I'm driving/riding in France. Cheers James __________________ ... and all because the lady loves....

19-09-2006, 02:10 PM	#7
Tonio600 Monster mon amour Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorking Bike: M900 Posts: 368	Priorite a droite only applies when nothing else applies. That's quite a basic rule. And it's needed for countryside roads where there is no road markings. It still exists in France. Re. roundabout, most of them are like everywhere else, you've got the priority when you're in. Place de l'Etoile is not quite a roundabout. I guess it works in a different way because the trafic is not like anywhere else. The same applies for the periph', priority is for people entering it, which is exactly the opposite of any double carrigeway or motorway. But once again, I guess the rule is in a way it suits better the trafic you can find there. __________________ 96' M900 \| 98' ST2 \| 99' M600 DD #8

18-09-2006, 12:14 AM	#2
Bodybag Guest Posts: n/a	Make sure your RAC cover is European cover as the full cover only extends to Europe if you apply for it. You need to carry spare bulbs etc. in certain European countries but not sure what France requires. Never really took notice of the local peculiarities while I lived there. Be aware too with French roundabouts, if you're on it you have to give way to traffic coming onto it rather than you having right of way all the way round. Always amusing to sit at a bar on Place Saint George in Toulouse and watch tourists getting it wrong.

18-09-2006, 11:29 AM	#3
Darry Guest Posts: n/a	Cheers bodybag, I already knew about the priorite a droit rule... bloody stupid if you ask me and causes so many accidents. I used to live in Paris, but never driven there, looking forward to going round the arc de triomphe, just for the hell of it, I've crossed it many times drunk on foot (I know stupid and dangerous), should be fun! My RAC covers all over Europe, got full (inc Europe) at the Ally Pally. D.