Since the Métro was the first subway system in France, its name has
become a generic term in French for any kind of rail mass transit—so
when Parisians refer to “taking the métro,” they may actually be referring
to either the standard subway or the RER, or indeed any part of the system
that runs on rails.
Mass transportation is managed by a bewildering blend of semi-govern-
mental organizations, the most prominent of which are the Régie
Autonome des Transports Parisiens (Independent Paris Transport
Authority), or RATP, and the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer
Français (French National Railway Company), or SNCF. You’ll see the
distinctive logos of one or both of these latter organizations everywhere
you go while using mass transit.
In addition to all the rail networks, Parisian mass transportation includes
a very large fleet of buses, serving nearly twelve thousand bus stops in the
Paris metropolitan area. The bus network is slower than the Métro, but it’s
also more scenic. Bus stops are more numerous in the city than Métro
stations, although even the Métro coverage is excellent. Buses are also a
good choice for people with limited mobility, since they have no steps and
can accommodate wheelchairs (more on this later).
There are also several tramway lines in Paris. These are like buses on
rails. They serve the periphery of the city and don’t go past the areas that
tourists prefer to visit, so we won’t talk much about them in this guide. In
terms of pricing and use, they follow the pattern of the Métro, which we
will describe in detail.