Demonstration in Paris: hundreds unite to denounce “motorized violence”

On Saturday, October 19, a moving rally took place on the Place de la République in Paris, a few days after the tragic death of Paul Varry, a 27-year-old cyclist crushed by an SUV. Several hundred demonstrators, most of them on bicycles, rallied to demand measures to improve coexistence between cyclists and motorists and put an end to “motorized violence”.

Under powerful slogans such as “less speed, more tenderness”, “walk or pedal for calmer streets” and “police, don’t let us down”, participants expressed their desire to create a safer, more respectful urban environment.

Véronique, a woman in her thirties who rides her electric bike daily for her concierge business, shared her indignation: “At some point, you have to calm down. The road belongs to no one and to everyone. It could have been me, a car is a weapon.”

A call to protect cyclists

Anne Monmarché, president of the Paris en Selle association, took the floor to reiterate the urgency of the situation: “Motorized violence kills. We want the public authorities to really get to grips with the subject. We need to protect the most vulnerable. Paul is no longer here, but we are.

“She will be part of a delegation meeting Transport Minister François Durovray on Monday afternoon to discuss the proposals put forward by the associations.

An act of remembrance

At 5:45pm, when the tragedy occurred, the demonstrators observed a minute’s silence, followed by a round of applause in tribute to Paul Varry. The Paris rally was coordinated with similar events organized in front of town halls in many French cities, on the initiative of Paris en Selle, the Fédération française des usagers de la bicyclette (FUB) and the association Mieux se déplacer à bicyclette.

An alarming toll

Paul Varry’s death takes place against a worrying backdrop: in 2023, 226 cyclists lost their lives on French roads, crossing the 200-death threshold for the third year running. The driver involved in Paul Varry’s accident, a 52-year-old sales technician, has been charged with murder and detained.

This popular movement bears witness to a collective desire for change and safety for all road users.