Paris Bus Question
 

Forgive my ignorance, but I saw Bus #73 mentioned on another thread. Can you take Paris buses that stay above ground? I don't want to take the Metro. Also, can you pay when you board like you do in US?

Yes street running buses lace Paris - i believe you must buy tickets before boarding - buy a carnet at a metro station but unlike the metro's flat fee regardless of distance inside Paris i think buses may require additional tickets as to length. www.ratp.fr for details.

Hi H,

The buses stay above ground (usually).

You can buy your ticket from the driver - about 1.40E - or you can buy a carnet of Metro/bus tickets at almost all metro stations.

If you change buses, you have to have a new ticket.

The metro allows unlimited transfers.

((I))

If you ride six times or more then 10-ticket carnet will be better than solo tickets. Carnets - 10 tickets are sold at a discount and they can be shared by anyone.

Thanks for your speedy reply. We used the bus some in Dublin, and once in London. Because I live in AK, you can see I'm not really experienced with public transportation. I haven't been on a train (except the Heathrow express) since I went from OR to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962!

If you ride more than <u>five</u> times, a <i><b>Mobilis</b></i> pass is more economical than single tickets, whether purchased individually or in a <i>carnet</i>. With the pass, you can ride all day for &euro;5,50.

Hi all; just a few additional facts :

:: unlike the metro's flat fee regardless of distance inside Paris i think buses may require additional tickets as to length. www.ratp.fr for details. ::

This used to be true until Sept 1, 1999 when all bus routes were divided into &quot;sections&quot; and when a single ticket would only cover 2 sections. This was dropped - I don't think this rule was duly observed by the riders, anyway !

Today, only a handful of bus lines retain this fare scheme - among them line 350 (CDG-Gare de l'Est) and line 351 (CDG-Nation) ; these being the only ones among this handful that have any interest for a tourist.

On all other RATP busses : 1 ride = 1 ticket !

:: or you can buy a carnet of Metro/bus tickets at almost all metro stations. ::

Actually, at -all- Metro stations in Paris (even if some have no more ticketing staff - see &quot;Paris Metro Police&quot; thread!), at all RER stations and at all SNCF main stations in Paris.

You should buy at any bookstore or newstand a guide to the bus system. These have schedules and pictorial diagrams of the routes with each stop. The diagrams show you which bus goes where and where you can connect from one route to another. I don't have the title of mine because I am not at home, but there are several from different publishers.

We have always used passes (Carte Orange) because they give you unlimited rides. Walk until you get tired, ride the bus until you get bored, take another bus off in another direction. I love it!

You can also get this (free) map from any RATP ticket window:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...eur&amp;fm=pdf