Trams and bikes (but no cars) in Montpellier

The City of Montpellier is served by a network of comfortable low-floor trams.  The trams operate on a prepaid computer card system.  Cards are purchased at machines at each stop, and are read on the tram by scanners operated on the honour system.  The trams run on an exclusive rights of way in the outer regions of town.  Most of these rights of way are covered with grass.  In the City centre, the trams share space with people, in a pedestrian-only zone, as seen here in the central Place de la Comedie.  The trams operate at a slower speed in the pedestrian areas.  It is a mixture that seems to work well, although everyone has to be a bit careful.

When you get off the tram, you can rent a bicycle from one of many coin operated booths in the area.  There are three universities in Montpellier.  The tram-bike system is a practical solution for students that live in the suburbs, but need to move around once they are in town.  It works well for tourists too.  The bikes are heavy duty, and may be returned to any of the rental stations.

Vehiclular traffic is controlled through a system of retractable bollards that are operated by radio control.  Normally, they are up, and vehicles are prevented from entering the pedestrian zone.  Emergency vehicles, or pre-authorized delivery vehicles are able to lower the bollards in order to get access.  There are very few vehicles in the pedestrian zone.  The unfortunate exception is motos (motorcycles and scooters) which seem to drive everywhere in France with impunity.  We did notice some effort by the Gendarmes to discourage this, but not too much.