I’ve been downloading and reading the Paris bus maps.  I “slice” some of them to include my blogs.  While reviewing one of my favorite routes I noticed a yellow triangle next to the street name and saw that the symbol meant that particular stop is not accessible  <<aux UFR>>; UFR is the French acronym for <<Utilisateurs de Fauteuil Roulant>> “wheelchair users”.  This non-UFR stop is not typical, but you can see the indication on Bus Line 21 traveling toward Porte de Gentilly at the Palais Royal – Comédie Française stop.  It’s a limitation of the street and curb.

Rare non-accessible bus stop

All buses on all lines are accessible/accessible.

I’ve encountered lots of jack hammering street work over the years.  Sometimes this work even improves things.  The EU passed legislation around 2005 requiring improvements in accessibility.  I understand that hotels and other public buildings must include accessibility considerations when making major renovations.  Allons-y!

In Deciphering (1) I posted a recent version of Line 21 which runs from Port de Gentilly to Gare Saint-Lazare.  I also sliced the map to highlight a couple of individual stops along the route.  The stops shown in that slice are available in **both** directions.

Here’s a slice of that same bus line for stops that **do not** necessarily run in both directions. The <<Berthollet-Vauquelin>> stop on Rue de Berthollet only takes passengers going in the Stade Charléty direction.  If you want to go in the opposite direction, your bus stop is on Rue Cl Bernard.

Line 21, stops in different directions.

The other two stops indicate they take passengers in both directions, but you need to be at the bus stop going in the correct direction (right or left side of the street).   There are several additional useful visual “clues” to assist you along with me personally!

I’m looking at my favorite bus line maps thanks to the http://www.ratp.fr website. Most bus stops accommodate several bus lines.  Just take a look at the <<Les Écoles>> stop listing 5 lines.  When you duck under the stop enclosure, you’ll see maps for each of the lines.   Les Écoles stop includes line 21 which I’m using here for show-n-tell.

Bus line 21, Gare Saint-Lazare to Stade Charléty, Porte de Gentilly

All bus lines indicate their two terminal points (similar to the Metro lines).  Each stop along the route is indicated by a straight line and the street/stop name listed above it as shown below.

A few stops along bus line 21.

So far so good?  Bon.  Allons-y!