Park and Ride – Bordeaux Expats

Bordeaux Tramway

Mike Foster — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:38:00 +0000

The tram is the way to get around Bordeaux if you’re visiting as it is clean, cost effective and easy!

One thing that you’ll notice when you arrive in Bordeaux is the efficient use of the tramway which was installed in 2003. The use of its ground level power supply means that there is absence of over-head wires, which doesn’t obstruct the charm and view of the old city.

There are 3 different tram lines that form an extensive network of Bordeaux and it’s surrounding area. The tramway operates from around 4:30am until midnight (around 1am on Thursday, Friday & Saturday night). All stops have panels displaying the waiting time until the next tram arrives. Weekday and Saturday services run around every 10-12 minutes, whereas on Sundays operates every 20-30mins.

Tram A: Is the longest line and connects Lormont and Floirac to Mérignac (all of which are outer suburbs of Bordeaux). The line connects the left and right banks of the Garonne, passing over the old stone bridge (Pont de Pierre) and the center of Bordeaux. Tram stops of interest: Chaban-Delmas Stadium, Mériadeck, Town Hall, rue Saint-Catherine, Place du Palais, Porte de Bourgogne, Place Stalingrad, Jardin Botanique

Tram B: This line also passes through the center of the city connecting Bordeaux’s outer suburbs. It is the second longest line and connects Bacalan to Pessac. Tram stops of interest: CAPC Contemporary Art Museum, Quinconces, Grand Theater, Town Hall, Museum of Aquitaine, Place Victoire, University Montaigne Montesquieu.

Tram C: Is the shortest line connecting Les Aubiers to Terres Neuves. This line is useful for those of you arriving by train and also the people wanting to visit the New Stadium. Tram stops of Interest: Grand Parc, Jardin Public, Quinconces, Place de la Bourse, Porte de Bourgogne, Saint Michel, Gare St. Jean.

Tram D: Is the newest line and connects Carle Vernet et Mairie du Bouscat. Tram stops: Mairie du Bouscat, Calypso, Courbet, Barrière du Médoc, Croix-de-Seguey, Fondaudège Museum, Quinconces, Place de la Bourse, Porte de Bourgogne, Saint-Michel, Sainte-Croix, Tauzia, Gare Saint-Jean, Belcier, Carle Vernet.

Even if the tram is a clean and easy way to get around town, for new comers to the city it may or may not be obvious as to what to do.

Firstly, you’ll need to purchase a ticket to ride on the tram as there are inspectors that jump on and surprise the general public with a fine if a valid ticket is not produced.

Ticket kiosks can be found at all tram stops where you are able to buy an array of different types of tickets. The ticket machine is defaulted in French but there is a button to convert the language into English or Spanish. Once you have selected your language you can select your ticket by rotating the wheel in the center of the panel, click the center button to choose and then select the total number of tickets you wish to purchase.

To pay you will need to either pay by coins or credit card (notes are not accepted).

Ticket Types & Price:

(After validation the ticket is good for 1 hour)

Type of ticket	Uses	Price
Tickarte 1 trip	For just 1 trip (Change as many times during 1 hour)	€1.60
Tickarte 5 trips	Occasional travel. No expiry date.	€6.50
Tickarte 10 trips	Occasional travel. No expiry date.	€12.00
Tickarte Relay Park*	Combine car – tram – bus (One day)	€4.50
Tickarte 1 day	Unlimited trips for a day	€4.30
Tickarte 7 days	Unlimited trips for a week	€12.00
City Pass	Unlimited transport access and provides access to museums, and other establishments (only available at the Tourist Offices)	€25.00 – 1 day €30.00 – 2 days €35.00 – 3 days
Evening Ticket (Pass Soirée)	Unlimited transport access from 7pm until 7am the next morning,	€2.00

* To be used in conjunction with the Park and Ride stations on the outskirts of the city.

* Prices may vary since this article was published. Check here from updated information.

Once you have boarded the tram there are two small yellow machines where you can validate your ticket.

Official TBC tram website: www.infotbc.com

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Bordeaux Tram – Park and Ride

Mike Foster — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:57:00 +0000

With the increase of traffic and limited parking spaces in the centre of the city, it is a good idea to perhaps think about using the Park and Ride (Parc-relais) stations dotted around the outskirts of town.

As to be expected, all stations are guarded by video surveillance and connect customers who wish to use the tram and bus network to travel into the CBD.

The below information lists Public Park and Rides. There are other stations scattered around the area, however these are reserved for annual subscribers.

Where are they Located?

Click here to download printable version.

Tram Line A:

Seguinaud: Tram Stop “La Gardette-Bassens Carbon-Blanc” – Capacity: 243 places (Motorbike 36 places) – Location: Grand Came, Lormont.
Les Lauriers: Tram Stop “Lauriers” – Capacity: 190 places (Motorbike 40 places) – Location: Avenue de la Résistance, Lormont.
Buttinière: Tram Stop “La Buttinière” – Capacity 603 places (Motorbike 52 places) – Location: Avenue des Quatre Pavillons, Lormont.
Galin: Tram Stop “Galin” – Capacity 399 places (Motorbike 36 places) – Location: Avenue Thiers, Bordeaux Bastide.
Stalingrad: Tram Stop “Stalingrad” – Capacity 250 places (Motorbike 20 places) – Location: Corner of Quai Deschamps and Rue Letellier, BordeauxBastide (near the Fire Station).
Arlac: Tram Stop “Fontaine D’arlac” – Capacity 395 places (Motorbike 32 places) – Location: Avenue François Mitterrand, Merignac.
Quatre Chemins: Tram Stop “Quatre Chemins” – Capacity 398 places (Motorbike 38 places) – Location: Avenue de la Marne, Merignac.

Tram Line B:

Bougnard: Tram Stop “Bougnard” – Capacity 187 places (Motorbike 48 places) – Location: Avenue Bougnard, Pessac.
Unitec: Tram Stop “Unitec” – Capacity 249 places (Motorbike 54 places) – Location: Avenue du DocteurAlbert Schweitzer, Pessac.
Arts & Métiers: : Tram Stop “Arts & Métiers” – Capacity 594 places (Motorbike 50 places) – Location: Avenuedes Facultés, Pessac.
Brandenburg: Tram Stop “Brandenburg” – Capacity 207 places (Motorbike 20 places) – Location: Rue Joseph Brunet,Bordeaux.

Tram Line C:

Les Aubiers: Tram Stop “Les Aubiers” – Capacity 246 places (Motorbike 40 places ) – Location: Avenue de Laroque, Bordeaux.
Ravezies-Le Bouscat: Tram Stop “ Place Ravezies-Le Bouscat” – Capacity 369 places (Motorbike 26 places ) – Location: Alléesde Boutaut, Bouscat
Carle Vernet: Tram Stop “Carle Vernet” – Capacity 206 places (Motorbike 20 places ) – Location: Rue Carle Vernet, Bordeaux.

Opening Hours

Seguinaud, Lauriers, Buttinière, Arlac, Quatre Chemins, Bougnard, Unitec, Arts & Métiers, Brandenburg, Les Aubiers, Raveries-Le Bouscat, Carle Vernet:

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Sundays / Holidays: 5am to 1am
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 5am to 2am

Stalingrad and Galin:

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Sundays / Holidays: 5am to 12:30am
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 5am to 1.30am

Cost and Conditions

You hold a subscription: Access is free for subscribers of the TBC network (monthly subscriptions, annual 7 day tickarte, Modalis subscriptions) as well as for travellers with a one day tickarte or evening pass. Simply validate your ticket at the entrance of the station before leaving the park and ride.

You don’t hold a subscription: You can access the park and ride by buying tickets from the attendant:

Always check their website for up to date prices:

Park and Ride Tickarte : allows access to the park and ride and is valid for one hour* on the Tram and Bus network. A tickarte is given to each passenger. **
- Price: €3.00
One Day Tickarte: allows access to the park and ride and continuous travel on the Tram and Bus network. This ticket is only valid for one person.
- Price: 1 Day: €4.10 / 7 Days: €10.80
Evening pass: allows access to the park and ride and continuous travel on the Tram and Bus network between 7pm and 5am. This ticket is only valid for one person.
- Price: €2.00

* The ticket must be validated within the hour of purchase

** Limited to passenger numbers set by the vehicle’s registration.

Important:

Keep your entry ticket as it is needed for the exit. It is necessary to have the ticket validated. If your ticket is lost, you will need to pay a flat rate of €8.

For further information about the Bordeaux Tram network, click here.

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All French cars to be fitted with indicators from January 2019

Chris Tighe — Fri, 04 May 2018 07:57:00 +0000

The French transport minister has confirmed today that all cars sold in France will be fitted with INDICATORS as standard from January 2019.

This ‘groundbreaking’ decision has been taken due to changing attitudes towards driving in modern France, and also the fact that it has never been more useful for other motorists to have a clear idea of the direction in which a vehicle driver intends to take their vehicle at junctions, roundabouts or between lanes on the motorway.

In this revolutionary approach to road safety, the minister went on to say:

“Earlier this year, we conducted a three-month study of French drivers, and one major outcome from this research was that drivers were finding it difficult at times to accurately predict when a motorist intended to turn off a major road or take a certain exit at a roundabout.”

“We then looked at vehicles from other countries, and we observed that many of them have a small stick attached to the left of the steering wheel that can be raised or lowered – this in turn then sends a signal to one of two sets of flashing lights that are attached to the exterior of the vehicle.”

“When other motorists see this external signal, they can then accurately adjust their own driving actions to avoid being forced off the road into a ditch or head-first into a bus stop full of people.”

The minister added:

“French drivers can look forward to a number of intelligent safety innovations in 2019, such as brakes, mirrors and drivers using their eyes.”

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HOW TO DRIVE ON A FRENCH MOTORWAY

Chris Tighe — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 07:00:00 +0000

As new legislation is set to allow learner drivers on motorways, there is no better time to discover how France’s major roads aren’t just demented Mad Max-style tarmac battlegrounds, they apparently have ‘rules’.

It’s surprisingly easy to drive on the motorway, even if you are an insane bastard.

Here are the main guidelines:

Many people assume the motorway speed limit is 130kph. It’s actually 180-250kph although if it’s late at night and there are no police around you can go as fast as you want. Above all, make sure you never reduce your speed on wet roads.

It’s best practice to try to drive within 0.5mm of the bumper of the car in front, then overtake without indicating – don’t forget to ‘sneer’.

The right lane is for lorry drivers so that they can swerve into the hard shoulder while texting or watching the football. Lorry drivers are also encouraged to avoid using their mirrors or eyes at all costs.

The middle lane is for quietly determined pensioners and Modus drivers.

The left-hand lane is for German cars and their prey. BMW, Audi, SUV and “sports car” drivers have the divine and legal right to undertake traffic jams and generally behave however they want – they are superior beings.

Motorbikes are entitled to weave psychotically between any lane at any speed.

If you need to change lanes or exit at a junction – UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES USE YOUR INDICATORS OR MAKE ANY PRIOR SIGNAL WHATSOEVER.

There is no law as such on the motorway, and it is actually fine to shoot other drivers with a crossbow, especially if they have a caravan.

The motorway is basically a straight line so you don’t need to pay attention to driving. It’s better to focus on your smartphone, laughing at people who have broken down or simply letting your imagination take you to a distant planet.

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The Quinconces turns into a free car park for Christmas

Mike Foster — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 08:54:50 +0000

The mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppe, announced that the Place des Quinconces will be transformed into free parking lot just before the holiday period.

According to an article in the the Sud Ouest, this measure will be taken to facilitate access to downtown commerce. It is an attempt to re-jump trade that has suffered for the past several weeks. This is a result of the ‘gilets jaunes’ demonstrations that have taken place in the city for the past month.

The free parking will be available on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday just before Christmas.

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