Cyclist killed in Paris: hundreds of people, including the victim’s mother, demonstrated in emotion in Paris, Nantes and Nice

The revolution after the surprise. More than a thousand people according to the Prefecture presented on Saturday in Paris in a mood, to stop “motorized violence“, a few days later 27-year-old cyclist dies in the capital, and to request measures to satisfy the co-existence of cyclists and drivers.

The participants, many of whom came by bicycle, gathered at the Place de la République, in the center of Paris, under the slogans “faster, more tender”, “walk or bike, for peaceful streets”, “stop violence with a motor”. vehicles”, or even “police officers, don’t let us down”.

“At some point, you have to take a break, no one and everyone has their way”claimed Véronique, who did not want to specify her last name. “It could have been me, a car is a weapon»haunted by this thirty-year-old boy, who travels around Paris every day on an electric bicycle for his concierge business, La fille à vélo.

“Paul is no longer here, but we are here.”

“Motorcycle violence kills. We want the public authorities to take the matter seriously.”asked Anne Monmarché, president of Paris en Selle, an association that campaigns to improve cycling conditions and claims a thousand members. “We must protect the most vulnerable. Paul is no longer here, but we are here.”she added at the end of her speech, very moving.

She will be part of a delegation that will receive Transport Minister François Durovray on Monday afternoon. “The idea is to listen to the proposals of the associated actors who represent cyclists with respect, to co-create future policies together. “his office told AFP.

Paul Varry, 27, an active member of the Paris en Selle association, died on the public highway on Tuesday, run over by a motorist with whom he had just had a dispute, on Boulevard Malesherbes, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. the driver, a 52-year-old tech salesmancharged with murder and imprisoned.

A very long round of praise

Demonstrators in Paris observed a moment of silence at 5:45 p.m., when the tragedy unfolded, followed by a standing ovation. The victim’s mother said who was present “in shock” and he asked that the person who committed the crime “around”.

Gatherings were also held at the same time in front of the town halls of many other cities in France, at the call in particular of the Federation of French Bicycle Users (FUB) and the association Better Travel by Bicycle.

In Nantes, around 300 people took part in the moment of silence in front of the city hall. “It’s murder for bodywork. We are talking about him today, fortunately, but because he was in the center of Paris. In the country, for example, there are many facts that are not yet seen.”mourning Arthur Desmidt, 29 years old, helmet on his head.

“We need to stop considering the car as an extension of ourselves and value it in our everyday lives”said Barbara Delattre, a high school teacher and member of the Nice à Vélo association, a city where nearly a hundred people observed a moment of silence for Paul Varry. In 2023, 226 cyclists died on French roads, surpassing the level of 200 deaths for the third year in a row.