The national strike resumed in transport, in particular at the SNCF and in the Paris transport authority (RATP). SNCF announces in a press release: “Train traffic will be severely disrupted from Wednesday January 18 at 7:00 p.m. to Friday January 20 at 8:00 a.m. due to a national interprofessional social movement”.
In Paris, the RATP also foresees very disrupted traffic – which could prevent travelers, for example, from taking their correspondence. This could block many travelers in transit in Paris. Users of lines 2, 3, 2bis, 5, 6 7, 7bus, 9, 12 and 13 have to deal with reduced speeds and many closed stations.
Traffic is completely interrupted on metro lines 8, 19 and 11. RER A and B also see the number of trains in circulation melt by 50%. Buses and trams are also very disrupted. However, even on the lines where no disturbance is announced, the overall situation of the network should cause a strong saturation.
In other words, getting around by public transport should be very complicated until the weekend. The best advice is to favor telework or postpone your trip. But what if you can’t? Fortunately, there are a few mobile apps that should keep you informed of specific disruptions on your journey. While others will allow you to circumvent the difficulties with alternative modes of transport.
Top applications SNCF / RATP strikes :
- SNCF Connect
- Hello RATP
- Citymapper
- Bolt (VTC)
- FREENOW (VTC)
1. SNCF Connect, to stay informed
The SNCF connect application now goes well beyond a simple application for booking trains or consulting timetables. This app also allows you to consult the alternative transport offer available around your station / during your journey. This allows you to jump, for example, from a train to a soft mode of transport.
Beyond this rather practical functionality in times of SNCF strike, the application displays live the latest information messages from the carrier about the social movement. This makes it easier to keep up to date with disruptions. However, given the difficulties, we only recommend that you use SNCF Connect to consult these messages and the transport offer.
Buying a ticket and traveling between this Thursday and Friday is strongly discouraged unless absolutely necessary. You can download the application by clicking on the following banner:
SNCF Connect
By: OUI.sncf
2. Hello RATP, to avoid surprises in Paris
© RATP
The RATP application is also very useful both for consulting the alternative transport offer in Paris and for obtaining the very latest information on the social movement which is also hitting the transport authority hard. Traffic was, at the time of writing, totally interrupted on a handful of lines. While strong disturbances are to be expected on the whole network.
By going to the traffic tab of Bonjour RATP you can consult an updated status of the network, and thus avoid the lines hit by the worst disturbances. However, depending on the situation, you may prefer to completely avoid the RATP transport offer during rush hour until the weekend. Like SNCF Connect, the RATP application lists alternative modes of transport – which will allow you to cross the capital more quickly.
You can download Bonjour RATP by following one of the links below:
3. Citymapper, for the alternative transport offer
© Lemon squeezer
Citymapper is a popular travel app. It gives you, wherever you are, an accurate view of the public transport offer, alternative modes of transport, rental and taxis. And allows you to compose a journey by juggling these modes of transport. The advantage of Citymapper is that once you have defined the terms of your multimodal trip, you get a fairly accurate estimate of the time it takes to reach your destination.
The icing on the cake, you will know exactly how many calories you have burned at the end of your journey. And the total price that your trip will cost you. Citymapper is excellent for getting around Paris, especially during a strike. However, the application also works wonderfully in almost all major cities in France.
You can download Citymapper by following the link below:
CityMapper
By: CityMapper Limited
4. Bolt, the ride-hailing service
© Bolt
The Uber brand is well known to those who use ride-hailing services, especially in Paris. However in 2023 the carrier’s price is often higher than the competition – and that’s why we advise you to test Bolt instead this Thursday and Friday. Bolt offers more motorized transportation options than Uber.
The service is also more suitable if you are traveling with a pet, which may prevent you from using most alternative taxis and VTCs. Bolt has a much more open policy in this area. Just remember to warn the driver when ordering your ride. In addition, Bolt is also self-service electric bikes and scooters. Convenient.
You can download the Bolt app by following one of the links below:
5. FREENOW, the VTC made in France
© Freenow
Originally launched under the Chauffeur Privé brand, then Kapten, FREENOW is a transport application made in France. With Freenow, you can quickly order a VTC service. But also find a car-sharing vehicle, scooters, scooters and electric bikes.
Besides Paris, FREENOW is very present in Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, Cannes, Lille, Marseille and Toulouse. More than 150 cities in Europe are also covered by the service, at the start of 2023. You can download the FREENOW application via the link below:
6. Uber, which needs no introduction
© Unsplash / Mariia Shalabaieva
We no longer present Uber, the benchmark for VTC services. With Uber, getting around is very simple: you open the application, select a destination, then the type of VTC you want to borrow (more or less luxurious, more or less expensive). The prices are modulated in real time according to the time, VTC offer available and crowds.
Due to the strike, therefore, it is possible that the fares charged by Uber are a little high in the worst of the difficulties. If this is the case, we advise you to carefully compare the price of the races with that of competing carriers such as Bolt and FREENOW.
You can download Uber by following the link below:
Uber
By: Uber Technologies
7. Lime, to cross Paris by scooter
© Lime
Lime is one of the first operators of self-service electric scooters to land in Paris. And since then, the latter has remained one of the biggest players, even if the long-term threats hanging over this transport offer (there is talk of banning electric scooters in Paris) have forced it to diversify with a range of bicycles.
Be careful, however: for your safety, ideally plan to wear a helmet. Note also that it is forbidden to use the sidewalks on an electric scooter in Paris. Users are required to drive exclusively on the roadway.
To download the Lime application, it’s here:
8. Dott, the alternative
© Dott
Dott is another major player in electric scooters and electric bicycles in Paris. The equipment offered by Dott is particularly well maintained and has the most recent safety devices – to slightly reduce the risk of accident which is not 0% on scooters and bicycles in a city like Paris.
Note that the service is reserved for those over 18 years old. You are required to ride on the roadway or on cycle paths (including scooters). Using sidewalks is prohibited. Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended for your safety.
Download the Dott app:
9. Bird, to give you wings
© Bird
Another major operator in Paris and other cities: Bird. The application allows you to borrow scooters and electric bikes from the nearby brand in just a few minutes. All you have to do is scan the QR Code on the scooter or bike with your smartphone.
Once everything is in order in the Bird app, press the accelerator to start and pull the brake to slow down. As with competing services, it is crucial to obey traffic rules (which may change in some cities for these vehicles).
But also to park responsibly so as not to disturb other users. Download Bird via the link below:
10. Vélib’ to find a bike (if the service is not overrun)
© Velib
Obviously in this period of strike, how not to recommend Vélib’? The Paris City Hall’s self-service bicycle offer has the advantage of offering well-maintained equipment, all for a particularly affordable price. Of course, to ride these bikes, you will have to use the roadway and the cycle paths when they are available.
Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended. Note, however, that during periods of heavy traffic, the departure stations are often desperately empty (when those on arrival are not saturated…). Vélib’ is therefore one option among others, subject to availability.
Download the Vélib’ app below:
…And of course, also think about walking
In Paris intra muros in particular, the distances are not enormous whether it is to go from one station to another or to cross the city on foot. Google Maps and other GPS applications can thus help you to move easily in the capital and elsewhere, without having to wait for a VTC transport which never arrives or to desperately seek a mode of transport in free floating when everything is taken by storm. .
Of course, if you need to transfer to Roissy or Orly airports, we are over much greater distances, and in this case you will necessarily have to either find an RER or take a taxi. Do not hesitate, in the latter case, to negotiate with the driver the price of the race before getting into the car.
