https://hitchwiki.org/en/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=80.219.230.9&feedformat=atomHitchwiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T00:52:27ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.32.3https://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=Montpellier&diff=12280Montpellier2007-07-14T19:26:14Z<p>80.219.230.9: </p>
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<div>{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}<br />
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'''Montpellier''' is a city in the South of [[France]]. <br />
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Apart from an attractive city in itself, it is situated next to a main highway A9/E15 connecting cities such as [[Perpignan]] and [[Barcelona]] to the South, [[Aix-en-Provence]] and [[Marseilles]] to the East, [[Lyon]] and [[Paris]] to the North, and [[Toulouse]] and [[Bourdeaux]] to the West.<br />
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==Hitching Out==<br />
===All Directions===<br />
For a few months, there has been a new tramway line in Montpellier, line 2, and it goes directly to a [[péage]] (toll plaza). Take tram number 2 at the train station, direction "Saint Jean de Vedas", then get out at the stop "Saint Jean le Sec". At the stop look around and you will see a péage. You can hitchhike on this one if you want, but there is low traffic, so it is best to go on the big toll where all the cars from North or South have to stop. This one is 500 meters more in the south but it is completely worth to walk to it since the chances to get a lift there, greatly increases. To get there, you need to walk past the péage in the direction of traffic. It's illegal and quite dangerous to walk in the road, so you need to walk along it, but stay in the grass next to it. You will see the big péage from where it's easy to get a 300 or 400 km ride in any direction.<br />
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===South or West to [[Perpignan]], [[Toulouse]], [[Bourdeaux]] and [[Barcelona]]===<br />
The "all directions" tip, above, by far seems the best bet as these two mean hitching out of a roundabout, which is never as favorable as a péage. But if in any case you need to hitch out without using the tram or péage others have used these routes:<br />
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'''Option One''': Another option is to get to Place de L'Europe ([http://www.liftershalte.info/?lat=43.605691341740744&lng=3.9101028442382812&zoom=15&trip=0 location]), for example by taking tramline 1. From there you can already see signs to the highway. You can either follow those signs and the main road (Avenue de Président Pierre Mendes France) for about 15 to 20 minutes, or get a ride from where this road starts to either your destination or to a better location further up the road, at the roundabout where the main highway A9/E15 actually connects to the Avenue de Président Pierre Mendes France.<br />
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''note'': there is not a very good spot for cars to stop, but they stop at the roundabout for traffic with enough time to ask drivers for a ride, and for them to open the door.<br />
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* [http://www.liftershalte.info/?lat=43.60702755812576&lng=3.9308738708496094&zoom=15&trip=0 Location on the map of the roundabout]<br />
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'''Option Two''': A second option is the [http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=15&ll=43.58953,3.891821&spn=0.01548,0.040255 roundabout] off Avenue de Palavas. However there is no good spot for cars to stop at the roundabout, and nowhere on the ramp either. [[Zac]] waited for an entire day for a ride to [[Perpignan]] without luck and shamefully retreated to the train station.<br />
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==Useful tips==<br />
You can find free luggage storage at the "Musée Fabre," a big new museum in the center of Montpellier, close to "Place de la Comedie". Of course the luggage storage is for people who visit the museum, but if there is a lot of people they won't pay attention. It's a room on the left in the entrance, there are boxes where you can put a bag. You need to put one coin inside to have the key which they give you back.<br />
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It's a nice painting museum for people who like art. Use an ISIC card (or say you have one) for free entrance.<br />
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[[Category:France]]</div>80.219.230.9https://hitchwiki.org/en/index.php?title=France&diff=12279France2007-07-14T19:23:00Z<p>80.219.230.9: </p>
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<div>[[Image:Perpignan bridgeoveronramp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|On ramp bridge near [[Perpignan]]]]<br />
'''France''' is a great country for hitchhiking. There are many friendly car and truck drivers. The highways cost money, and at some ''[[péage|péages]]'' (toll points) you can get a ride easily. <br />
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==Péages==<br />
[[Image:peage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A typical big péage in France]]<br />
A '''péage''' is a tollway in France. They are often placed near cities on autoroutes (motorways). At some péages all the traffic has to stop and pay and are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride. You can get free maps in the péage offices - these also indicate where you can find "all-stop-péages". In this country, finding a good spot is the key of getting the best rides. For instance, in [[Montpellier]] there are two spots very close to each other. The first one is easy to reach, nevertheless, the second one ain't that harder but the chances of being picked up are extremely better.<br />
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Here it's a map of south of France highway network : http://www.asf.fr/shared/pdf/CarteReseau.pdf In black letters where it's written "peage de....." it mean it's a big peage where all the trafic have to stop. The faster way to travel is only to go from this "all-stop-péages" to an other one.<br />
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[[Image:Derek_hitching_at_péage.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Derek hitching at a péage near [[Valence]]]]<br />
===Getting a Ride===<br />
* You can thumb immediately after the péage;<br />
* If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a busy lane and stand next to the toll machine and talk to drivers when they stop to pay (as pictured to left);<br />
* You can wait before the péage, just where the drivers choose their lane. There is mostly enough space for cars to pull over here.<br />
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Some péages are really good, some not so good. If you've been waiting for a while with destination sign, drop it and try with your thumb only. Also, you can try to get a ride to the next good spot in the wrong direction.<br />
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===Legality===<br />
There are no prohibitions about hitching in France, apart from the restricted access roads, i.e. expressways and motorways. Péages are also considered part of the motorway, and normally one is not allowed to solicit rides there. However, this is not really enforced and since 2004, [[User:Daniel|Daniel]], was only told once to get off the tollbooth and ask for a ride on the parking nearby (what was difficult because there was no services except toilets). But the risk is relatively low.<br />
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==Language==<br />
Most of the French don't speak English, so have a map to show them where you want to go. If you know any French, use it! French people like it if you try your best. Say "Bonjour Monsieur/Madame", to show that you are friendly. If you're heading to [[Germany]], you maybe need to know that Germany is ''Allemagne'' (all-ay-man'ye) in French.<br />
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It may also be helpful to put '''S.V.P.''' after your destination if you use a sign. It's shorthand for ''s'il vous plaît'' (sih-voo-play)--please in French.<br />
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==Online maps==<br />
[http://mappy.fr mappy] is a good online map for France, it shows you (to) where you can take public transport.<br />
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==License plates==<br />
French number plates end with the number of the ''département'' the car is registered in. For example, Parisian cars end with the number 75. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_arrondissements_of_France List of arrondissements of France] and <br />
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates] at Wikipedia.<br />
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==Cities==<br />
[[Image:Mrtweek mzenzes hitching in france.png|thumb|right|250px|[[User:Mzenzes|Martin]] and [[User:MrTweek|Philipp]] hitching in France]]<br />
* [[Paris]], the capital, hitching out of here is really difficult.<br />
* [[Agen]]<br />
* [[Bordeaux]]<br />
* [[Calais]] - the main ferryport to the British Islands.<br />
* [[Dunkerque]]<br />
* [[Lille]]<br />
* [[Dijon]]<br />
* [[Lyon]]<br />
* [[Marseilles]]<br />
* [[Rennes]]<br />
* [[Strasbourg]]<br />
* [[Toulouse]]<br />
* [[Montpellier]]<br />
* [[Perpignan]]<br />
* [[Reims]]<br />
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[[Category:France|*]] [[Category:Europe]]<br />
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[[lh:FR]]<br />
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