Bordeaux Tram

When a progressive mayor took over Bordeaux in 1995 he promised to develop and modernise the city. He has done that to a great extent but the tram system he introduced - modern, fast, clean and smart - doesn't seem to have alleviated the traffic congestion in the city. The place is absolutely strangled with motor cars and there are lights every few metres so even the shortest journey takes an age.

We went by car all the way in as we didn't know about the good park & ride system. But I'd certainly use that next time.

Here's one I took in Seville. Can't say how effective the tram system is as we spent only a short time there and didn't use them.

While on the topic of French transport, can anyone see what is wrong with these signs? Hope you can read them - the picture is compressed.

2 of the places are in Spain ? or is that a daft answer ?? :) :PDT_Xtremez_42:

It looks like the signs pointing to the right are pointing the wrong way down a one-way street.

The bottom sign in each case says 'centre ville' and are pointing in opposite directions.

Threw me as I started following one sign and glimpsed the other as I came off a small roundabout. Made sense of it later. It is a small medieval town and the road circles it - either way leads you to parking areas from where you can walk into the middle.

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Originally Posted by kevin

When a progressive mayor took over Bordeaux in 1995 he promised to develop and modernise the city. He has done that to a great extent but the tram system he introduced - modern, fast, clean and smart - doesn't seem to have alleviated the traffic congestion in the city. The place is absolutely strangled with motor cars and there are lights every few metres so even the shortest journey takes an age.

We went by car all the way in as we didn't know about the good park & ride system. But I'd certainly use that next time.

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Trams have a place and can be effective in towns. They are never the answer in cities, especially those with an old street pattern. They are not the answer for Liverpool. Liverpool has a metro which is easily extended complete with around 5 miles of tunnel awaiting - few CPOs and no lengthy inquires, just lay the tracks.

I was in Strasbourg and a train came down the street like in your picture - they said it was a tram. It shook the buildings around. It disgorged hundreds of people. Not nice. Rapid-transit has to be segregated, either below ground level or above it, not mixing with surface traffic.

The Bordeaux tram does not have overhead wires I believe. The third rail is only energized when a train is over it - the only good point. Overhead wires are horrible and should resisted at all costs.

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Originally Posted by Waterways

Trams have place and can be effective in towns. They are never the answer in cities, especially those with an old street pattern. They are not the answer for Liverpool. Liverpool has a metro which is easily extended complete with around 5 miles of tunnel awaiting - few CPOs and no lengthy inquires, just lay the tracks.

I was in Strasbourg and a train came down the street like in your picture - they said it was a tram. It shook the buildings around. It disgorged hundreds of people. Not nice. Rapid-transit has to be segregated, either below ground level or above it.

The Bordeaux tram does not have overhead wires I believe. The third rail is only energized when a train is over it - the only good point. Overhead wires are horrible and should resisted at all costs.

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Yes - it is a great system for the people who use it, but it does not relieve the city's congestion problem.

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Originally Posted by kevin

Yes - it is a great system for the people who use it, but it does not relieve the city's congestion problem.

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Exactly. A waste of time. They are lumbering-transit not rapid-transit.

Talking of things 'road'...

I am not a driver myself, but once some years ago motoring through Ontario I inquired of a pump-jockey how he was sure what car was petrol what diesel. He told me that the equipment was a different size so it was near impossible to make a mistake. Then...

I read today that one Gary Neville has put petrol into his high-class diesel. Who would have thunk it?