Three Great Things About Driving And French Firemen At The Tour de France
http://www.byjamesraia.com/articles/34/1/Three-Great-Things-About-Driving-And-French-Firemen-At-The-Tour-de-France/Page1.html
By James Raia
Published on 06/21/2007
After 10 years of attending the Tour de France, I still know little about French ways. I speak perhaps 100 words of the language, But I have spent enough time here, including two non-Tour trips, and I've driven more 25,000 miles throughout the country.
I've gotten lost, stayed in chateaus I didn't want to leave and spent nights in hotels where I thought I might catch a disease. I've gotten sick in Pyrenees. And I've met some incredibly skilled journalists, generous innkeepers and people I consider friends and would invite into my home.
All of this said, and after having been on the open road by myself and with plenty of time to think about, I come up with three quick French customs worthy of serious consideration for import to the United States.
After 10 years of attending the Tour de France, I still know little about French ways. I speak perhaps 100 words of the language, But I have spent enough time here, including two non-Tour trips, and I've driven more 25,000 miles throughout the country.I've gotten lost, stayed in chateaus I didn't want to leave and spent nights in hotels where I thought I might catch a disease. I've gotten sick in Pyrenees. And I've met some incredibly skilled journalists, generous innkeepers and people I consider friends and would invite into my home.
All of this said, and after having been on the open road by myself and with plenty of time to think about, I come up with three quick French customs worthy of serious consideration for import to the United States.
(This article originally appeared in the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat during the 2006 Tour de France.)
After 10 years of attending the Tour de France, I still know little about French ways. I speak perhaps 100 words of the language, But I have spent enough time here, including two non-Tour trips, and I've driven more 25,000 miles throughout the country.
I've gotten lost, stayed in chateaus I didn't want to leave and spent nights in hotels where I thought I might catch a disease. I've gotten sick in Pyrenees. And I've met some incredibly skilled journalists, generous innkeepers and people I consider friends and would invite into my home.
All of this said, and after having been on the open road by myself and with plenty of time to think about, I come up with three quick French customs worthy of serious consideration for import to the United States.
In no particular order of importance:
1. Roundabouts — Once you get the hang of driving in round circles at intersections, it makes perfect sense. The simple rule: If you see a car in the roundabout coming in your direction, don't enter. If you don't see anyone, enter and do it aggressively. The French respect confident drivers. The other logical thing about roundabouts is that if you're not of the proper direction, no worries. Just keep going around the roundabout until you've determined the right direction.
2. Toll booths that take credit cards — The French highway system has way too many tolls booths, and they're expensive. During several days of the Tour to date this year, I've spent nearly $50 in one day driving to various stages. On major highways, there can be as many as 30 toll booths the line can be long, with as much as an hour's wait most of in Southern France.
If you want to use a credit card the system is fairly easy. You insert the ticket you've been given at the previous toll both. You insert in one slot and then insert your credit card in the next slot. If you want to use your credit card, the lines are shorter. Why don't we have that system in the United States? If you don't want pay to pay any tolls, the smaller country roads in France don't have tolls. Your drive will likely be a lot longer, but the view is worth it, if you're not in a hurry.
3. Volunteer Firemen — With the exception of Paris and Marseilles, France's fire department is comprised of volunteers. If you get hurt or if there's an emergency, each area of France has it own set of volunteers ready to assist. Last year, when I became ill in the Pyrenees, firemen arrived and drove me to my hotel, cutting through heavy traffic for more than two hours.
The volunteer firemen at the Tour de France are seemingly doing more promotion and marketing than helping in emergencies. It's not that firemen aren't ready in case there's a need. But when there's not a need for their expertise, the firemen give keychain trinkets and information to the Tour spectators. The reason: France needs more volunteer firemen. We have volunteer firemen in the U.S., but the French concept seems important. Chances are it wouldn't work in the U.S., though, with the reasons too many to detail here.
After 10 years of attending the Tour de France, I still know little about French ways. I speak perhaps 100 words of the language, But I have spent enough time here, including two non-Tour trips, and I've driven more 25,000 miles throughout the country.
I've gotten lost, stayed in chateaus I didn't want to leave and spent nights in hotels where I thought I might catch a disease. I've gotten sick in Pyrenees. And I've met some incredibly skilled journalists, generous innkeepers and people I consider friends and would invite into my home.
All of this said, and after having been on the open road by myself and with plenty of time to think about, I come up with three quick French customs worthy of serious consideration for import to the United States.In no particular order of importance:
1. Roundabouts — Once you get the hang of driving in round circles at intersections, it makes perfect sense. The simple rule: If you see a car in the roundabout coming in your direction, don't enter. If you don't see anyone, enter and do it aggressively. The French respect confident drivers. The other logical thing about roundabouts is that if you're not of the proper direction, no worries. Just keep going around the roundabout until you've determined the right direction.
2. Toll booths that take credit cards — The French highway system has way too many tolls booths, and they're expensive. During several days of the Tour to date this year, I've spent nearly $50 in one day driving to various stages. On major highways, there can be as many as 30 toll booths the line can be long, with as much as an hour's wait most of in Southern France.
If you want to use a credit card the system is fairly easy. You insert the ticket you've been given at the previous toll both. You insert in one slot and then insert your credit card in the next slot. If you want to use your credit card, the lines are shorter. Why don't we have that system in the United States? If you don't want pay to pay any tolls, the smaller country roads in France don't have tolls. Your drive will likely be a lot longer, but the view is worth it, if you're not in a hurry.
3. Volunteer Firemen — With the exception of Paris and Marseilles, France's fire department is comprised of volunteers. If you get hurt or if there's an emergency, each area of France has it own set of volunteers ready to assist. Last year, when I became ill in the Pyrenees, firemen arrived and drove me to my hotel, cutting through heavy traffic for more than two hours.
The volunteer firemen at the Tour de France are seemingly doing more promotion and marketing than helping in emergencies. It's not that firemen aren't ready in case there's a need. But when there's not a need for their expertise, the firemen give keychain trinkets and information to the Tour spectators. The reason: France needs more volunteer firemen. We have volunteer firemen in the U.S., but the French concept seems important. Chances are it wouldn't work in the U.S., though, with the reasons too many to detail here.