|
|
| City Guide - Strasbourg - Getting Around | ||
|
||
|
Getting Around Public Transport The Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) (tel: (03) 8877 7070) runs the bus and tram systems in Strasbourg. Tram line A links the northwest (Hautepierre) with the south of the city (Illkirch-Graffenstaden) and passes through the main train station, place Kléber and place de l'Etoile. Trams run daily 0430-2430, approximately every two minutes in rush hour. Lines B and C were inaugurated on the 1 September 2000. Line B links the southeast of Strasbourg (Elsau district) to the communes in the north (Schiltigheim, Bischeim and Hoenheim). Line C links Elsau to the heart of the university quarter - the Esplanade district. The lines meet at place de l'Homme de Fer in central Strasbourg. Buses run until 2330. The main stops are at Baggersee, Hautepierre, Observatoire, Montagne verte and Pont Phario. Bus and tram tickets cost FFr7 and a carnet of five costs FFr31. The Central Tourist Office sells carnets of bus tickets and has free bus maps. Tickets are also available from CTS bureaux, post offices, some newsagents (tabacs) and ticket machines. Tickets must be time-stamped before boarding the tram or bus. The tour pass, allowing unlimited bus and tram transport for 24 hours, costs FFr20. Taxis Taxis may be hired at taxi ranks at the train station and place de l'Homme de Fer. France Taxi (tel: (03) 8822 1919) and Taxi 13 (tel: (03) 8836 1313) operate 24 hours a day. Taxis charge FFr7.50 per kilometre during the day, rising to FFr10.50 at night and weekends. An extra charge of FFr3.50 is made for each item of luggage. Many taxis accept payment by credit card. Limousines AICS, 15 avenue Général de Gaulle (tel: (03) 8845 9191; e-mail: aics@cybercable.tm.fr; website: www.alsace-limousines.com), provides a chauffeured limousine service at a rate of FFr2650 a day. Driving in the City Almost all the centre of Strasbourg is pedestrianised and cars should be left at the large car parks on the fringes of the city centre. In order to encourage drivers to use public transport, eight large car parks outside the centre charge low rates (FFr15 a day) and include tram tickets for all passengers in the price. More central car parks charge about FFr7 per hour. Sainte-Marguerite-Petite France, close to the Musée d'Art Moderne, charges FFr15 for six hours and FFr5 for less than one hour. Sainte Aurelie-Gare, just south of the station, charges the same rate. Three large car parks cluster around the place des Halles. Parking at the railway station, Serres, Canal and Porte de l'Hopital car parks are free for visits of less than 30 minutes; the Batelier Car Park, near the Cathedral, is free 2000-0200 - ideal for nights out. Further information is available from Strasbourg's online parking guide (website: www.parcus.com). Car Hire Providers include Avis (tel: (03) 8832 3044) and Europcar France (tel: (03) 8815 5566), both near the train station; Century International, 20 place de Bordeaux (tel: (03) 8835 3488), and Hertz France, 10a boulevard Metz (tel: (03) 8832 5762). The minimum age for car hire varies from 21-25 years; a credit card is required; and drivers must have possessed a national driving licence for at least one year. Hire rates are approximately FFr550 a day with insurance usually included in the price. Bicycle Hire Strasbourg has the largest cycle network in France. Bicycles can be hired from Vélocation, by the station at 4 rue du Maire Kuss (tel: (03) 8852 0101); at 10 rue des Bouchers (tel: (03) 8835 1165); at the Cathedral, place du Château (tel: (03) 8821 0638) and from Bus Vélocation at the European Parliament and Palais des Congrès (tel: (06) 1449 4360). A deposit of FFr300 is required, together with identification; a day's hire costs FFr30. Maps of cycling routes are for sale at the point of hire. ESCA Tours, Ponts Couverts (tel: (03) 8822 5919), hire 'speaking bikes' that give guided tours in English at a cost of FFr75 for two hours. |
||
