Not yet in full scale, but not far from the R-312

Veolia's proposed double articulated bus for rapid transit showed up, although in presentation poster sized proportions.

Still operating across the northern rim of Greater Paris from Saint-Denis with enroute stops at La Courneuve, where the picture was shot, Tramway T1 is set to be considerably extended as far as Reuil-Malmaison, west of Paris. Completing the planned extention will take more than 10 years.

Yet, hard working line 304 shows its limits at peak time. At time two or three articulated units may be trailing to each other

as seen at Nanterre-Université

On normal times, intervals rarely exceed 15 minutes

Serving scores of strategic locations, such as the general hospital, across both Colombes and Nanterre, bus 304 is reportedly set for replacement before work on T1 extension can actually start. Not operating across downtown Paris, but still a RATP arch-rival and even a nemesis on outside tenders, Veolia also reportedly inked a deal
according to which the BHNS/Bus-à-Hauts-Niveau-de-Service (Hight Level Service Bus) as the BRT/Bus Rapid Transit is refered in French will be operated on behalf of the legacy transit authority as a replacement for Bus 304 until the Tramway extension is completed.

Educating users

Last September 17th, the plazza of Nanterre Ville's regional and metropolitan station played host to a presentation of mass transit projects set to serve the area by 5 years. Lasting five days, the event also promoted the use

of bicycles. A repair shop was sheltered by the marquee

Not to be left in the cold, RATP/Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, Greater Paris's mass transit authority, contributed to the event by putting passengers into bus drivers' shoes, let's start the engine.

Produced between 1987 and 1996, the Renault R-312 took over from the venerable Renault SC-10 on most french mass transit networks. R312's name stood for R as Renault, 3 for the three side exits featured on early models and 12 for the vehicle lengh, aka, 12 meters. By far the largest customer, RATP accepted a grand total of 632 units. Since, many have been withdrawn from use as newer Irisbus and MAN started coming in the fleet. Things were not completely over and scores of R312 found new networks to serve in Eastern Europe and Africa.

Not yet driving back and forth the streets of either Douala/Cameroon or Varna/Bulgaria, this R-312 still soldiers with the RATP as a rental bicycle office at large. But on this occasion, its was driven to educate today's bus riders .... The stage was then set with the following cast
Stool : a kid suddenly running across the street
Pink canvas : pavement (UK) sidewalk (US)
Green plants : other by-standers


Bicyle + baloon : itself

The driver was acting as the teacher on the field by inviting on-lookers to sit in the driver's position. Once behind the wheel, one was then asked how good he could see the afore mentioned cast members by using the field of vision from the windshield, driving mirrors and so on.

Giving a lift to a french legend

Thanks to this Nissan Atleon, this 40 year plus old Citroën D-Super is on the roads again.
Next stop will be the restoration workshop.

Small by size, BIG for what they can do

These are the mini trucks made by MEGA, part of Aixam group of automotive companies, headquartered at Aix-Les-Bains/France at the foot of the Alps. The extensive lines of vehicles range from Columbia golf shuttlers , to Mega trucks with Aixam driving licence-free micro cars in between.

Company profile : http://www.mega-vehicles.com/en-company-profile.html

Mega's range of mini trucks and utility vehicles http://www.mega-vehicles.com/accueil.php

A Mega truck at work on location

Well showing how appropriate the naming has been, the micro truck is parked on the edge of the passage way to a major department store. Something virtually impossible to do with a small van and let alone a regular truck !

There, this congenial looking vehicle caters to passers-by in need of either a cup of coffee, or some concfectionary, or a sandwich plus drink, without the hassle of walking to some distant coffee houses.

Renault's newest Sedan/Saloon previews on Champs Elysées

A new Renault up for close inspection before

your nearest dealer gets it in the show-room ....

The Mégane range of (european) midsize cars was launched in 1994
The products family was made up of
an hatchback 4-door sedan/saloon

an hatchback coupé 2 doors
a 4-door + boot regular sedan/saloon
a stationwagon (or Estate for readers from the UK)
and a mid-size family van labelled as the Scenic
last year, the third generation hit the show rooms,

without a regular sedan/saloon.
Admittingly, France is not anymore a perfect market place for sedans/saloons.
Starting with the launch of the Renault R-16 in 1965,
France has turned as a country of hatchbacks.

Now set to single out as a proper standalone like the Scenic,

the regular sedan is previewing at the carmaker's show case

on Avenue des Champs-Elysées.

and can be inspected at close quarters.

Now called the FLUENCE, it will be put on sale across Europe next spring

Paris' Waterways Clients

Fleets of sightseeing boats operated by quite a few companies crisscross Paris' waterways at a sustained level. Often larger, barges mingle into traffic at regular levels together with smaller yatchs.

At times, the waterway divides into two ways of shipping, often determined by the bridges' clearance in terms of width and height.

Close by St-Michel, opposite Quai des Grands Augustins and along Quai des Orfèvres, a landmark in many in hosts of detective stories taking place in Paris .... Paris-En-Seine's flagship is about to shore at base after completing another 1 hour stylish drink cruise. (http://www.paris-en-seine.com)

Coming next is a Compagnie des Bateaux Mouche's fleet member

which gets ahead while going under Pont-St.Michel.
Bateaux-Mouche specializes in long standing cruises along determined itineraries from base to base (http://www.bateaux-mouche.fr/lang-pref/en)

Not far behind is a


Batobus fleet member shuttling along a fixed itineray serving 8 points of call.
Passengers are free to drop off and come on.
(http://www.batobus.com/engligh/index.htm)


Closing Notre-Dame, third stop of a loop originating from Eiffel Tower

How about a Smart running on Steroids

Last April 15th, La Défense plazza hosted the launch of Burn Day, another energy drink.


A congenial crew came in with loads of samples to be given away to thousands of tired and bored office workers who inhabits the surrounding building on day time.

To both keep sample fresh when stored and get an handy attention getter, Burn Day also brought the proof that a diminutive Smart

can also run on steroids !!! And increase its lengh by almost three fold.

Not as elaborate as their predecessors of the 50s and 60s

But not devoid of interest. Some advertising vehicles still come out from some real conversion out of a standard one. But modifications seldom reach the levels of four and five decades ago when everything except the chassis was redesigned and reworked.

Cofiroute is a prominent french highway builder and operator. The company's latest project is a two level motorway running across much of Paris western suburban area, by linking Reuil-Malmaison to Versailles in 10 to 15 minutes instead of today's 45 minutes or so.
Plans call for setting the motorway underground through a two level tunnel. Each level comes up with a three lane highway. Each level will be single way, so that frontal collision will be virtualy impossible. Moreover, two-wheelers and trucks will be banned in addition to vehicule showing up an height in excess of 2.80 meters / 7.40 feet.

Last September 24th, Cofiroute was amid a marketing drive to promote a subscription scheme targeted to frequent drivers, many of whom radiate from La Défense business district for both personnal and professionnal reasons

The company dispatched then its specially modified advertising van, conversion of which


was obtained from a Renault Master full size van. The company's van was parked on the grand plazza , all day long and at a strategic location between the convention center and the shopping mall., where a promotional counter was already on site. The van drove in with another team of attention getters who circled back and forth

and salespersons who set up their office and pitched the subscriptions on board.