Difference between revisions of "Lille"

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* '''Last verified''': August 2012. The best place to go anywhere is the hard shoulder near Porte d'Arras Metro station - just follow the signs to Highway. Within 20 minutes many cars heading towards every directions stopped. To Brussels use sign B and you get there very easy. (this spot is also indicated in the section describing direction south (A1/A26).
 
* '''Last verified''': August 2012. The best place to go anywhere is the hard shoulder near Porte d'Arras Metro station - just follow the signs to Highway. Within 20 minutes many cars heading towards every directions stopped. To Brussels use sign B and you get there very easy. (this spot is also indicated in the section describing direction south (A1/A26).
  
=== Going south? take A1 towards [[Paris]], or directly south join the A26 towards [[Reims]], [[Dijon]], [[Lyon]] (so also direction Spain & Italy) ===
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=== Going south? take A1 towards [[Paris]], or directly to south of France join the A26 towards [[Reims]], [[Dijon]], [[Lyon]] (so also direction Spain & Italy) ===
  
 
Heading south?
 
Heading south?
Directly to Paris:
+
Going into Paris:
have a "PARIS"-sign.
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have a '''"PARIS"-sign'''.
The A1 leads directly to Paris.
+
A1 leads to Paris.
  
Directly to the south of France (and Italy, Spain):
+
Rather directly to the south of France (and Italy, Spain)?
better choose a "LYON"-sign.
+
Avoid Paris.  
As it takes quite some time to go into Paris.
+
As it takes quite some time cross Paris.
 
Even more time to leave Paris.
 
Even more time to leave Paris.
In this case try to get on the A26. Try someone take you to the "Peage" right before the junction between A1/A26. Stand at this "Peage" with a e.g. "A26/LYON"-sign makes more sense).
+
Better choose a '''"LYON"-sign'''.
 +
In this case try to get on the A26. Try someone take you to the "Peage" (=toll) right before the junction between A1/A26. Stand at this "Peage"-square with a "A26/LYON"-sign).
  
You can choose to go the first petrol station on the A1 direction Paris.
+
From Lille you can choose to go the first petrol station on the A1 direction Paris.
Leaving Lille with a "AIRE PHALEMPIN"-sign.
+
Leaving Lille with a '''"AIRE PHALEMPIN"-sign'''.
 
If you can reach this petrol station "Aire de Phalempin" it is a good way to go south. (On Google Maps it seems you could walk to this petrol station, from the village of Seclin, south of Lille. Seclin has a train station. In french is described how you can get their by feet on: [http://hitchwiki.org/fr/index.php?title=Lille&action=edit&section=3]))  
 
If you can reach this petrol station "Aire de Phalempin" it is a good way to go south. (On Google Maps it seems you could walk to this petrol station, from the village of Seclin, south of Lille. Seclin has a train station. In french is described how you can get their by feet on: [http://hitchwiki.org/fr/index.php?title=Lille&action=edit&section=3]))  
  
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;Option 1
 
;Option 1
Go to ''metrostation « Porte d'Arras »''. From there walk in the direction of the motorway, cross the bridge on the left you will see an accelerating lane going onto the ring (it is the A25, which joins the A1 to Paris after avout 1 km. The best is to stand next to the traffic lights just before the ramp with a sign. People have time to stop on the ramp if they want to take you. [[User:Garthelgard|Garthelgard]] has hitchhiked from this spot more than twenty times and has never waited more than 30 minutes.
+
Go to ''metrostation « Porte d'Arras »''. From there walk in the direction of the motorway, cross the bridge on the left you will see an accelerating lane going onto the ring (it is the A25, which joins the A1 to Paris after about 1 km). You can stand next to the traffic lights just before the ramp with a sign. Or stand on the ramp itself, people have time to stop on the ramp if they want to take you. [[User:Garthelgard|Garthelgard]] has hitchhiked from this spot more than twenty times and has never waited more than 30 minutes.
  
 
;Option 2
 
;Option 2
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;Option 4
 
;Option 4
Go to ''metrostation « Porte de Postes »''. Here is a big roundabout. It's possible to get a ride in almost several directions. Eastwards : direction Calais. Westwards : direction Paris/Gand/Anvers/Amsterdam/Brussels. It's safe for cars to pull over and one can ask also at the traffic lights.
+
Go to ''metrostation « Porte de Postes »''. Here is a big roundabout. It's possible to get a ride in almost several directions. Westwards : direction Calais (via A25). Eastwards : directions like Paris/Gand/Anvers/Amsterdam/Brussels. It's safe for cars to pull over and one can ask also at the traffic lights.
  
 
;Option 5
 
;Option 5

Revision as of 11:27, 8 September 2017

Lille is in Northern France on the border with Belgium.

Hitchhiking out

Getting out of Lille is quite difficult, but not impossible.

A22/E17 North towards Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Netherlands

<map lat='50.62420185009975' lng='2.995147705078125' zoom='10' view='0' float='right'/>

You can avoid getting stuck in Lille by getting out at the last petrol station on the A1. "Aire de repos de Carvin" (the name might also "Aire de Phalempin") is quite a big station, good for hitching, and it's 15 km due south from the centre. However, in direction of Brussels it might be a bit difficult there. Most people go towards Ghent and Antwerp there.

Otherwise, take the tram-line T to Chateau Rouge. As you get out, you can see the motorway. The spot is the motorway slip road. There's not a lot of traffic, but there is space for drivers to safely pull over and pick you up.

Or else, get to the petrol station on the N356 about 800m north of metro station Mons Sarts. (Need to jump a small fence and a 2 meter drop! There is a place for your foot so you can slide and jump, but it is still quite a wall). From here you can find lifts going into Belgium and have the chance to talk to drivers.

The border is not a good spot anymore. It is now just a big parking lot where trucks stop, all sign of the previous building there have vanished, it is not possible to hitch on the highway anymore and hardly any car stop there. To get there you'll have to take the Line 2 of the metro until "C. H. Dron" (last stop, and actually already in Tourcoing, not in Lille). And walk 30 to 45 Min to it there is an access road with to fence or barrier stopping people on foot. You might be able to get a ride to the petrol station 5 km into Belgium at Kortrijk where loads of Netherland folk stop for a refill but it will be hard.

  • Last verified: August 2012. The best place to go anywhere is the hard shoulder near Porte d'Arras Metro station - just follow the signs to Highway. Within 20 minutes many cars heading towards every directions stopped. To Brussels use sign B and you get there very easy. (this spot is also indicated in the section describing direction south (A1/A26).

Going south? take A1 towards Paris, or directly to south of France join the A26 towards Reims, Dijon, Lyon (so also direction Spain & Italy)

Heading south? Going into Paris: have a "PARIS"-sign. A1 leads to Paris.

Rather directly to the south of France (and Italy, Spain)? Avoid Paris. As it takes quite some time cross Paris. Even more time to leave Paris. Better choose a "LYON"-sign. In this case try to get on the A26. Try someone take you to the "Peage" (=toll) right before the junction between A1/A26. Stand at this "Peage"-square with a "A26/LYON"-sign).

From Lille you can choose to go the first petrol station on the A1 direction Paris. Leaving Lille with a "AIRE PHALEMPIN"-sign. If you can reach this petrol station "Aire de Phalempin" it is a good way to go south. (On Google Maps it seems you could walk to this petrol station, from the village of Seclin, south of Lille. Seclin has a train station. In french is described how you can get their by feet on: [1]))

From Lille there are several options to hitch hike direction A1.

Option 1

Go to metrostation « Porte d'Arras ». From there walk in the direction of the motorway, cross the bridge on the left you will see an accelerating lane going onto the ring (it is the A25, which joins the A1 to Paris after about 1 km). You can stand next to the traffic lights just before the ramp with a sign. Or stand on the ramp itself, people have time to stop on the ramp if they want to take you. Garthelgard has hitchhiked from this spot more than twenty times and has never waited more than 30 minutes.

Option 2

Go to metrostation « Valenciennes ». Walking to the north, after about 100 meters you can go eastwards and follow the "Avenue Denis Cordonnier". The A1 crosses this "Avenue Denis Cordonnier". And there is an entrance to the A1. (On crossing "Avenue Denis Cordonnier" and "Boulevard Paul Painlevé". Hostel/Auberge de jeunesse "Stephane Hessel", address: 235, Boulevard Paul Painlevé)

Option 3

At the end of Boulevard des Cités Unies (at the side of the railways). 300 meters eastwards from metro « Lille Grand Palais », you find an entrance to the A1 direction Paris.

Option 4

Go to metrostation « Porte de Postes ». Here is a big roundabout. It's possible to get a ride in almost several directions. Westwards : direction Calais (via A25). Eastwards : directions like Paris/Gand/Anvers/Amsterdam/Brussels. It's safe for cars to pull over and one can ask also at the traffic lights.

Option 5

Go to metrostation « Porte de Douai ». Walk or hitch 4 km south (direction Ronchin). Or take the bus "Liane 1". After 4 km you will see a Novotel on your lefthand. There is a roundabout where there is a sign direction A1 Paris. However there is no direct access to the A1, the traffic direction Paris soon joins the A1 (after several hundreds meter).

--Roelguldemond (talk) 12:19, 11 December 2013 (CET)

A22/E17 South towards Paris

Take the tram-line line T to Chateau Rouge. As you get out, you'll see the motorway directly in front of you. The spot is the motorway slip road - you'll see it signposted 'Paris'. It is not ideal - especially if there is more than one of you and you have baggage - because the slip road is curved. This presents a safety issue that puts many drivers off and there are no lorries, rather it is is largely traffic domestic to Lille.

When I was there there wasn't a lot of traffic, but there is an additional lane which allows drivers to safely pull in and pick you up. The problem is that not all the cars taking this route are going to be heading south - make a sign and be patient. International Bob stopped a number of cars here, and got onto the A1 within an hour.

If you can find somewhere to hitch a lift to a nearbye service station (on the Paris bound motorway) this is much better. Pete the Temp and a friend failed on the above spot and got a lift to a service staion the next day and found a lift quite easily.

Dunkerque, Calais, England, A25

Take the subway to Saint-Philibert (red line). Then take the bus 61 (to this place, there is only one direction possible) to CENTRE COMMERCIAL (ENGLOS). Here, go back to the roundabout (20 meters). There is a direction to DUNKERQUE. There is not so much place to stop but the traffic isn't very high and cars are slow. If people don't reach Dunkerque directly, doesn't matter, that's in the good direction anyway. Go with them and take the entrance... Even with slow traffic, bad weather, you will find a lift very quickly. There are two area services between Englos and Dunkerque, and no one between Dunkerque and Calais. Most of the truckers you will see in service areas will go in England and going with them permit to through the sea for free!! Event if it's long to waiting for them, it could be nice!

About the subway

There are check-tickets, often. And that's not so easy to know where they are and when... If you are french, they are not nice = if you don't pay the bill, they will take money on your bank account directly (for me, it was one year after but VERY expensive... so even if you don't live in Lille but in France, an advice: pay sooner as possible...) I don't know what happened for strangers... Maybe, they won't worry you too much. you can buy an 3 inter-stations ticket. It's for 0.70€, three stops (without the departure station) but they can't really check where did you start your trip :) and it's half less expensive.

Sleep

Lille is expensive and is not very comfortable for the outdoor person. You probably won't have much of a problem with the police, but the drunks take being lunatics very seriously and they don't ever seem to pass out and leave you alone. As a result, you'll be met with all sorts of unwanted babbling conversation and one even tried to strangle Zactalk with a belt. Gare Lille Flandres is especially inhospitable.