City paints an invisible bike lane in clear varnish to protect historic cobbles

Rouen’s roads department said a cycle lane in the protected centre would be indicated with clear varnish so listed cobbles would not be disturbed by paint. Cyclists were told the lane existed. Drivers were told, in a smaller line, the same.

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Within ten days the prefecture logged two low-speed collisions. Each party said they had not seen a lane, because there was nothing to see. No serious injuries. The varnish remains.

A heritage architect called the solution discreet. A cycling group called it a rumour about a lane. Both are, in their way, correct.

YES IT'S REAL compared the voirie notice with the prefecture log. The experiment is documented. Visibility was not.