SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 163

remember to look to the left before crossing the street. Do
not assume that the zebra-striped pedestrian crosswalks
are automatic havens from traffic. Although Paris drivers,
impatient and aggressive as they may be, do tend to stop
for the piéton (pedestrian) at the crosswalk, some do not.
On the other hand, they may look as though they are
about to hit you, but are actually adept at driving under
crowded conditions and manoeuvering around pedestrians
while maintaining their (sometimes breakneck) speed.
And they do stop promptly at red lights, which are often
placed directly in front of a crosswalk rather than at the
corner. The concerned government, however, has started a
media campaign asking drivers to 'stay zen'. Nonetheless,
the best strategy is to pay attention to traffic, cross only
at crosswalks and wait for traffic lights ( les feux ) to turn
green in your direction. Also, watch out for bicycles,
mopeds and scooters, which weave in and out of traffic
and zoom around corners. Despite all this, walking is one
of the best ways to see Paris, to get around and to get
some exercise.
RATP
La Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) is the
public transit authority for l'autobus (buses), le métropolitain
(the subway, known as the métro ) and the Réseau Express
Régional (the RER commuter line to the suburbs) tel: 3246;
website:http://www.ratp.fr.
Maps of the transport system (both for Paris and the
suburbs) are available at métro stations, on the backs of city
maps and in street atlases. Maps of the métro are easy to
decipher, so the Plan de Paris No. 1, the standard handout
at métro stations, is adequate. For buses, however, ask for
the Plan de Paris No 2.
The public transit system is economical, efficient, well
maintained and safe. More than five million people use it
daily. As in any large city, women travelling alone should
be careful late in the evenings; sitting in the first car behind
the driver is also recommended. Pickpockets frequent the
métro , especially in tourist areas, and riders should avoid