I beg to differ. I've been biking in Paris regularly for the past 10 years. It has always been a great experience. And it is getting better year after year.
This. The last 10 years have seen so many improvements:
- Around the Seine, Rivoli, or left-bank, 3 streets went from almost-highway to cycling friendly shared road.
- Many 2 lanes streets got reduced to 1-lane + 1 protected bicycle lane.
- many large "roundabouts" offer a safer path.
The right bank clearly lags behind the left bank, but it's getting better every year.