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===Getting a Ride===
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.
===Legality===
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.
==Language==
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.
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.
==Online maps==
[http://mappy.fr mappy] is a good online map for France, it shows you (to) where you can take public transport.
==License plates==
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
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates] at Wikipedia.
* [[Paris]], the capital, hitching out of here is really difficult.
* [[Marseilles]]* [[Montpellier]]* [[Perpignan]]==Number plates==* French number plates end with the number of the ''département'' the car is registered in. For example, [[ReimsParis|Parisian]]* [cars end with the number 75. See [Saint Brieuc]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_arrondissements_of_France List of arrondissements of France]and * [[Dol de Bretagnehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates]]at Wikipedia.
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[[Image:Perpignan bridgeoveronramp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|On ramp bridge near [[Perpignan]]]]
'''France''' is a great country for hitchhiking. There are many friendly car and truck drivers. The highways cost money, and at some ''péage'' (toll points) you can get a ride easily.
==Info==
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.
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 isn't much more difficult, but the chances of being picked up are much better.
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.
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.
==Péages==
[[Image:peage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A typical big péage in France]]
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". The fastest way to travel is from one of these to the next.Here are some information how to get a lift from péages:
[[Image:Derek_hitching_at_péage.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Derek hitching at a péage near [[Valence]]]]
* You can thumb immediately after the péage;
* 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);
* You can wait before the péage, just where the drivers choose their lane. There is mostly enough space for cars to pull over here.
Some péages are really good, some are not. 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.
==Cities==
[[Image:Mrtweek mzenzes hitching in france.png|thumb|right|250px|[[User:Mzenzes|Martin]] and [[User:MrTweek|Philipp]] hitching in France]]
* [[Agen]]
* [[Bordeaux]]
* [[Calais]] - the main ferryport to the British Islands.
* [[Dijon]], [[Dol de Bretagne]], [[Dunkerque]]* [[Lille]], [[Lyon]]* [[DijonMarseilles]], [[Montpellier]]* [[LyonParis]], [[Perpignan]]* [[MarseillesReims]]* , [[Rennes]]* [[Saint Brieuc]], [[Strasbourg]]
* [[Toulouse]]
==External links==
* [http://mappy.fr Mappy] is a good online map for France, it shows you (to) where you can take public transport.*[http://www.asf.fr/shared/pdf/CarteReseau.pdf Le Réseau ASF], a PDF showing all-stop-péages on major routes.
[[Category:France|*Europe]] [[Category:EuropeFrance|*]]
[[es:Francia]]
[[fr:France]]
[[de:Frankreich]]
