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Public transport

Montpellier makes all public transport free for residents

‘I hope it will inspire other major cities,’ said the mayor

Bid to make public toilets free in France

The change is particularly targeted at train stations which charge for access

Montpellier to be first French city to make all public transport free

We look at how residents can get a free pass and which other towns offer free public transport

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New hand luggage rules and Wizz Air slated: 7 French travel updates

We also look at Air France’s planned withdrawal from Paris Orly, new European flights and how a ticketless train system works

Public transport operators in France must publish all cases of bedbugs

This must cover data of both ‘reported’ and ‘proven’ cases, said the transport minister stating that transparency is key

Driverless bus operates on usual travel line for first time in France

Buses on line 393 connect towns on the outskirts of Paris and have no driver during low-traffic hours. Passengers have to be seated as the bus can brakes more abruptly

South France: Heat sparks pollution alert, public transport made free

Motorway speeds are also being limited and some cruiseship stopovers are banned in a bid to reduce air pollution

US-Paris flights, €9 'TGV' fares, ferry drill: 8 French travel updates

Also in our travel round-up: how the French city of Orleans is experimenting with on-demand public transport

France strikes January 31: Travel will be heavily disrupted

Major issues are expected to trains, TGVs and some flights. The government advises people to work from home and delay trips if they can

French strikes: which sectors are joining action on January 31?

Transport will be particularly affected with some unions calling for a ‘massive’ walk out

Thursday’s French pension strike to impact flights, TGVs, Eurostar

Major disruption is expected with the transport minister warning against travelling on ‘nightmare’ day. Ten thousand police are being mobilised

Thursday’s French pension strike: alert over fuel panic-buying

People are being urged to delay trips and work from home as a ‘nightmare’ transport day approaches; selected power cuts and school closures are among other likely impacts

Four questions about Thursday’s ‘spending power’ strikes in France

Ports, public transport and schools are amongst services expected to be affected

Climate change: ‘We need greener fuels, not jet bans, in France’

France has dozens of small airports which rely on private business flights or accommodate emergency services

Strike to bring severe disruption to Paris buses and trams this week

The three-day-long union action begins today. It will not affect métros or RER trains

Planes, buses, trains: France’s Covid rules for eating and drinking

We explain where and how you are now allowed to eat or drink when taking public transport

In which French departments is mask-wearing currently obligatory?

You must still wear a mask in public outdoor spaces of some towns in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Corsica, Grand-Est, Normandy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Pays-de-la-Loire

Covid France: medical academy advises not speaking on metro

It advises people to be silent on public transport and not to talk on their phones to avoid spreading more contagious variants of Covid-19

Another French city trials stop-on-demand night buses

On-demand services are already being tested in a number of regions

Anti-Covid holograph buttons trialled on French buses

The contactless buttons are being trialled for two months on five buses in the Ile-de-France region

Montpellier makes public transport free at weekends

The measure has been in place since September 5 on the city's buses and trams, and was brought in by the mayor of the city to reduce pollution.

No-mask passenger removed from Paris-Nice TGV train

The passenger refused to put on a mask while travelling on the TGV train, even after given a fine.

France confirms where masks are mandatory from tomorrow

France has issued a partial list of “indoor, enclosed” places in which masks are to become obligatory from tomorrow (Monday July 20), alongside further recommendations of how to wear a mask safely and effectively.

Masks mandatory indoors in France next week (not August 1)

France is to make masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces from next week, and not from August 1 as was originally announced, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

France tempts people back on to bikes after lockdown

Government offers to cover €50 of repair costs for everyone who wants to get back on their bike after the coronavirus confinement period is eased

Health director: Covid-19 in France 'very worrying'

The French director general of health has described the Covid-19 epidemic as very “worrying, and deteriorating quickly”, and warned that the public is not respecting the “social distancing” advice.

Gratuit bus service freed up French town since 1975

Calais has become the latest French town to make its buses free – reporting an increase in passengers of up to 70% since making the change on January 2. We speak to the town of Compiègne, the first place in France, and in fact Europe, to do this back in 1975

Cost of France's six-week strike tops €1billion

Prime Minister's office at Matignon warns of 'significant financial consequences' of the dispute, which is now in its 43rd day

Buses are now all free in Calais

Calais is the latest city to make buses free, coming after Dunkirk, Niort, Aubagne and around 30 other French towns.

Strikes continue against pension reforms in France

Demonstrations planned for Thursday, December 12 - but unions are targeting Tuesday, December 17 as another national day of mass protests

Nationwide pension reform protests cripple France

Marches and demonstrations throughout the day are set to cause disruption for members of the public

French say strike is ‘justified’ and make other plans

Two thirds of French people believe the planned strike for December 5 against pension reform is “justified”, even as SNCF confirms 150,000 cancellations, and people make alternative travel plans.

French nature group: ‘Drop motorway limit to 100kph’

Reducing speed limits by as much as 30kph on French motorways as a way to “protect the environment” and “improve public transport” would be a “winning strategy”, a French environmental group has said.

Gilets jaunes to join France's December 5 strike

Decision to add support to union walkout follows vote at grassroots movement's first 'assembly of assemblies'

33 hurt in Paris-London bus crash in northern France

Flixbus has set up an emergency call-number for anyone concerned about family members

What changes in France in November 2019

Gas prices go up from the first of the month, a long-awaited tax increase adds about €0.50 to the cost of a packet of 20 cigarettes, the trêve hivernale comes into force and changes to unemployment benefits take effect

Most French people against planned SNCF strike

The majority of French people believe that the major SNCF train strike planned for December 5 is “not justifiable”, a new poll has found.

Public transport strike to cripple Paris

Commuters and tourists warned to avoid travel in the French capital if possible on Friday as unions walk out in an ongoing dispute over pension reforms - but transport operator RATP offers alternative commuting ideas and one-day offers

German train firm bids for new routes in France

A private German firm has put in a bid to run a rail service between Paris and Bordeaux using underused track that was bypassed by a new TGV line.

Plans to help with rural transport in France

Airships, car-sharing apps and improved rail services are all part of plans to improve transport in rural areas.

Rural France still ‘suffers from bad public transport’

Rural areas in France are still suffering from poor public transport links, MPs have said this week as a report on the subject appears to confirm their complaints.

Car horn use risks fine of €150 in France, court warns

Using your vehicle horn in a town centre in France, for anything other than a real emergency, can risk a fine of up to €150, a court has reminded drivers this week.

Driverless buses plan for Paris

Driverless buses are set to become a much more common sight on the streets of Paris

Road pollution damages health, French study confirms

The health of residents in urban centres across France is significantly and directly damaged by car traffic pollution, a new study has shown.

Online poll opens on free public transport in France

An online consultation on the idea of free public transport in France has been opened by the Senate, with the public invited to have their say on the idea before May 31.

France may turn off electric ad screens to save fuel

Electric publicity screens in French transport hubs could be switched off at night and in winter, after it was revealed that the annual energy use for one is equivalent to three family homes.

Paris makes travel free for kids and disabled youth

Children will be allowed to travel free on Paris public transport from September 1 this year, the capital’s Mairie has confirmed, in measures that will also help young disabled people and secondary students.

Gilets jaunes leader arrested as protesters face fines

The arrest of a key leader of the gilets jaunes movement has sent “a very bad signal” to the public, protest leaders have said, amid reports that some groups are now being threatened with high fines.

Best spring ever for ‘Macron coaches’

Passengers travelling on long-distance coaches across France rose by 43% this spring compared to last year, figures for 2018’s second quarter show.

Musicians must pass audition for French metro

Forget The X Factor ... In Paris, musicians have to pass an audition to busk in the métro and it can help them find that big break, reports Jane Hanks

Free buses are just the ticket to open up city

Buses are now completely free to use in Dunkirk and surrounding communes, making it France’s 30th local authority and the first city in Europe with free public transport for 200,000 residents.

Dunkirk is Europe’s first big city to offer free buses

Dunkirk (Nord, ‎Hauts-de-France) has become the first European city with over 200,000 inhabitants to offer free bus transport for all, seven days a week.

What changes in France in June

Gas prices to rise an average of 2.1%, last income tax deadline looms, cost of certain medical consultations up, checks on children's vaccinations, and free travel in Paris for - some - over 65s

Paris ponders free public transport

Mayor launches major study into feasibility of making public transport in the capital free to all residents

Paris authorities step in to rescue Vélib' scheme

Just 300 stations operational two months after Smovengo took over bike-share service

Flying river taxis are ‘go’ for the Seine

Mayor wins backing for zero-polluting SeaBubbles to be allowed despite being over the speed limit

Dispute over Navigo pass price rise

President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France Valérie Pécresse denies claims cost of monthly travel card will jump 3% in January - but confirms another price increase is under consideration

Public transport strike called for Friday

Up to 50,000 public transport workers are expected to join walkout after 127 strike notices posted in towns and cities across France

Nice and Paris together in electric scooter schemes

In January, Nice will become the second city in France to offer electric scooters as part of its shared transport system

Cars are just a con

I do not agree with Jacques Beaugé, president of Les Autos du Coeur who says ( Connexion June) that “cars aren’t luxuries”.