Transport - Paris - page 725

Buy tickets online, at ferry stops or tourist offices. You can also buy a two-/three-day ticket
that also covers L'Open Tour buses for €45/49.
Taxi
The prise en charge (flagfall) is €2.50. Within the city limits, it costs €1 per kilometre for
travel between 10am and 5pm Monday to Saturday ( Tarif A; white light on taxi roof and
meter).
At night (5pm to 10am), on Sunday from 7am to midnight, and in the inner suburbs the rate
is €1.24 per km ( Tarif B; orange light).
Travel in the outer suburbs is at Tarif C, €1.50 per kilometre (blue light).
There's a €3 surcharge for taking a fourth passenger, but drivers sometimes refuse for insur-
ance reasons. The first piece of baggage is free; additional pieces over 5kg cost €1 extra.
Flagging down a taxi in Paris can be difficult; it's best to find an official taxi stand.
To order a taxi, call or reserve online with Taxis G7 ( 3607; www.taxisg7.fr ), Taxis Bleus
( 01 49 36 10 10; www.taxis-bleus.com ) or Alpha Taxis ( 01 45 85 85 85;
www.alphataxis.com ) .
Increasingly big in Paris is Uber ( www.uber.com/cities/paris ) taxi, whereby you order a taxi
and pay via your smartphone.
Car & Motorcycle
Driving in Paris is defined by the triple hassle of navigation, heavy traffic and parking. It
doesn't make sense to use a car to get around, but if you're heading out of the city on an ex-
cursion, then your own set of wheels can certainly be useful. If you plan on hiring a car, it's
best to do it online and in advance.
Autolib'
Paris' electric-car-share program, Autolib' ( www.autolib.eu ) , is similar to bike-share scheme
Vélib': pay €9 per half hour to rent a GPS-equipped car in 30-minute intervals, or subscribe
for a week/month (€10/25) to benefit from cheaper rates (€7/6.50 per half-hour). Cars can
be picked up/dropped off at 1000 available stations around the city and are designed only
for short hops; the car battery is good for 250km. Carry your driver's licence and photo ID.