Friends are thinking about bringing their bikes when they visit us in France. They’re asking if there are any special rules.
When we used a bike rack - pre-2019 - I didn’t even think to ask the question.
So - are there any special/unexpected rules about transporting bikes on bike racks in France?
Merci bcp
Declare the extra vehicle length if travelling by ferry?
Don’t leave unattended en route. I had two bikes stolen from the car roof rack whilst shopping in a French hypermarket
Or height depending on carrier.
WTF - that must have taken some brass neck given it was (presumably) in full view of the public.
One family turned up with mangled bikes as they forgot they were on the roof 
Oops.
I suspect that someone quite casually removing bikes from a roof rack would hardly get a second glance, except from the owner. That’s why my row bar bike carrier is locked to the car and the bikes locked to the carrier with a substantial lock.
In terms of brass neck, there was a viral video a few years ago of someone trying to nick a bike off the back of a car that was stuck in traffic, while also on a bike.
Never an armed Gendarme around when you need one
Found it
If you have electric bikes I’m sure you have checked that the racks will carry their weight?
Have seen a few cars, with droopy racks and damaged e- bikes at service stations.
They are not that heavy compared to a mountain bike rather than a light weight sprint bike. 15-20kg but I agree there are some dodgy bike carriers available
My Thule carrier was locked to the car and the bikes were chain locked together and to the carrier frame. Good quality locks but few are unpickable by experts.
Nasty little wafer locks, can rake them open in under 30 seconds usually, thats the ones securing the roof rack unless the others securing the bikes are better?
Roof rack fittings that clamp to the gutter or integral longitudinal bars are easily forced although my last two cars have roof rack fittings which bolt the feet to nuts in the roof structure. The chains securing the bikes to the rack were cut with bolt croppers and the locks left intact.
Ever since the theft bikes travel, dismantled, inside the car.
Fit a trailer light bar (with a number plate if necessary), if the bikes are obstructing the tail lights and/or number plate.