PARIS, France — With tens of thousands of spectators and tourists flooding into Paris to watch the Olympic Games, city leaders wanted people to get around town, and to the different venues, more easily.
That meant building out more than a thousand miles of new bike lanes around the French capital.
During the Olympics bikes are the gold medal standard for getting around the city. It’s estimated one million people a day ride bikes in Paris, they can be seen everywhere with Paris expanding their bike program, with more than 1200 miles of bike lanes for people to ride on.
"It’s the fastest way to move in Paris," Paris resident Amandine Chaignot said. "It’s very convenient. It's very quick because there are cycling lanes everywhere."
The bike lanes also roll past Olympic venues and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
"The breaking, the skateboarding, the BMX, that will be amazing to see that on the Plaza Concord which is absolutely iconic," marketing director Corinne Menegaux said.
For the Games, Paris built around 35 miles of bike lanes to connect many venues and during the Olympics, Paris has built giant parking lots just for bikes. Organizers said they have around 10,000 spaces built for bikes at Olympic venues.
Another perk, Chaignot said, about the added infrastructure is that it cut her commute by more than half.
"Eight minutes instead of 25," Chaignot said. "I wouldn’t go back to a motorbike or a car ever."
Besides the quicker commute, Chaignot said biking around Paris is therapeutic.
"It gives you time to enjoy the city, the landscape when you cycle around the River Seine. It’s amazing."