On one of the days we all went for a bike ride around the city, ending up at city hall. These photos are a good indication of what passionate French bicycle advocates look like. Skirts and heels. Dapper in the evening. Poise and casual elegance.
If it's role models we're looking for in order to promote urban cycling as a normal, accepted and respected transport form, this bunch are leading the way.
Here are a few afternoon shots from a cycling life in the French city of La Rochelle. Regular people using bicycles to get around their city. Just the way it should be. Tres chic. All age and wage brackets are doing it. Shoulder checking, too. Although I suspect she is looking for someone since she is cycling in a gloriously wide bike lane.
I attended a national cycle conference in La Rochelle last week. I made a little film about this splendidly cycle-friendly city. Here it is. It was already my favourite city in France after having spent many a summer holiday there. It's the home of the world's first bike-share programme dating from 1975, too. They have really worked hard over the past couple of years on making the city even more bicycle-friendly.