SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette: France - page 134

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The French philosophy of égalité really shines here. Le Métro
is the oldest underground public transportation system in
the world, and it is linked up with all the rest of the public
transportation system, including the newest, fastest trains
in the world, the TGV. You can go anywhere in the country
conveniently by some sort of public conveyance, especially
if you begin and end in Paris.
People are generally polite in public transport. Thqey will
hold the door for the person behind them. They will let people
exit a train or bus before getting on. They will relinquish a
seat for the elderly or the handicapped. You should remember
to do the same.
All classes of people use the métro and the buses of Paris,
so addresses often note the nearest métro station with an
'M', and the name of the station. Both buses and métro use
little lavender cardboard tickets you buy at the metro stations
(cheaper by the ten-pack, ask for a carnet.) You can opt to
sign up for the fancy new magnetic pass, the Navigo , if you
are going to be a habitual user of the RATP system. That way
you pay by the week or the month for a pass you can use
whenever you want. For tourists, there is the “ Paris Visite ”
card, good for 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days, anywhere you want
to go in the RATP, métro and bus, as well as the buses from
the airports, the Montmartre train and several of the Paris
sights like l'Arche at La Defense.
Children under age ten can ride at half price. If you are over
60 you can ask for a reduction of 25 per cent on some of the
TGV trains, the Eurostar to London, and the rest of the SNCF
trains during the blue periods, but not services inside Paris. If
you go through the trouble of getting a Carte Senior , you get a
50 per cent discount on the above services, plus 30 per cent
off on trains to 22 countries in Europe. To get a Carte Senior,
go to any major train station with your passport showing your
age. They cost 55 euros, and are good for one year.
The buses are slower than the métro , but you see so much
more. And you have digital signs giving the wait for the next
train at each station. You never know with the buses, as the
schedule only gives i rst and last services of the day.