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GETTING AROUND

Bikes, scooters, and more

There are many options for low emission transportation!

Grenoble has a vibrant (even passionate!) bike culture. The city and its suburbs encourage the use of green modes of transport, and continue to develop their networks of bike paths.

  • MVELO+, rents urban bicycles of all sizes, as well as foldable bikes, cargo bikes and tandem bikes at reasonable rates from a daily to an annual basis (with basket, lock and helmet). 

www.veloplus-m.fr

Good to know: Based on certain conditions, the ILL will subsidize your MVELO+ monthly bike rental or contribute to bike repair.

 

  • Scooters, electric bikes libre-service

Dott maintains a network of over 4000 bright blue e-scooters and e-bicycles with designated pick up and drop off points around the city.  Download the application, sign up, and reserve a scooter or bike which you can find throughout Grenoble and surrounding communes.

Dott: https://ridedott.com/ride-with-us/grenoble

 

Buses and trams

Grenoble has a large network of buses and five tram lines operated by the M TAG (Transports de l'Agglomération Grenobloise).  ILL is just a 5 minute walk beyond the terminus of Tram B, ”GRENOBLE Oxford”, which is also serviced by buses C6, T64 and the 54.

Tickets can be purchased on tram platforms or by texting “1h” to 93123. Monthly passes can be purchased at one of the M Tag Agence de Mobilité.

 

For more information:

M TAG : www.tag.fr

M Tag network map: https://www.tag.fr/62-plans.htm

Download the smartphone app: tag.fr/appM

Visit an Agence de Mobilité

Centre-Ville:  49-51, avenue Alsace-Lorraine in Grenoble

 

Train

Train service is provided by the SNCF and the ILL is located just three trams stops (or 5 minutes by car) from the main train station, Grenoble Gares.

TGV: high speed trains connecting Grenoble to most major French cities

TER:  local train service for commuting to suburban cities such as Saint Égrève, Echirolles, Gières, Voiron, Chambery, and Lyon.

For more information

Regional (TER) services https://www.sncf.com/fr/offres-voyageurs/voyager-en-train/ter

SNCF national and international services: https://www.sncf.com/en

 

Air transportation

Three international airports serve Grenoble:

Lyon-St Exupéry International Airport is located about an hour from Grenoble (90 km) by motorway.

Geneva international airportis two hours' drive from Grenoble (140 km).

Airport express shuttle buses depart from the bus station (Gare routiere) next to Grenoble train station, or from a bus stop near the Pont d’Oxford.   

Flixbus - global.flixbus.com

Ouibus - www.ouibus.com

Ride sharing services are another option with pick up points set by the driver

Blablacar - www.blablacar.fr

 

Grenoble-St. Geoirsis the nearest airport (a 40-minute drive or 40 km from Grenoble), however it is not open to commercial flights all year round.  Flights tend to cater to winter ski tourism. Shuttle bus service from the Grenoble bus station is provided by Altibus: https://www.alps-airport-transfer.co.uk/en/shuttles/

 

Regional transportation

cars Region links metropolitan Grenoble to suburban areas as well as to North Isere and most rural communes, and groups the former networks Transisere and Carsisere.

More info: https://carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/en

Bike on board: https://carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/en/bike-on-board/1009

Transaltitude buses provide service from Grenoble to several ski resorts in Isere during the winter: https://www.transaltitude.fr/en/

Good to know: Certain buses are equipped with bike carriers

 

Carpooling, ride sharing networks

There are several carpooling networks to choose from depending on where you live. Sign up online and look for the itinerary you wish or you post a request.

  • Local ridesharing
  • Covoiturage 38  - operates in Grenoble and its suburbs
  • Covoiturage Caesug – Operates in the Presqu’ile Scientifique (includes ILL site), the university campus in Saint Martin d’Heres and the hospital campus in La Tronche
  • Partners with public transport system SMMAG(Syndicat Mixte des Mobilités de l’Aire Grenobloise) – designed to link riders with drivers for spontaneous, occasional or regular commuting. https://www.mobilites-m.fr/pages/Covoiturage.html#
    • M covoit' Lignes+: Spontaneous ridesharing pickup points
    • M covoit' RDV: ridesharing operating in Grenoble, Echirolles et Moirans/Voreppe 
  • Regional and national carpool networks 

 

Driving in France

All drivers in France must hold a valid driving license, as well as the vehicle registration certificate (carte grise), an insurance certificate and an air quality certificate for the same vehicle.

A valid driver’s license:

Depending on whether your driver's license was issued in an EU country, certain conditions determine whether your license is valid in France and if you can exchange your driver’s license for a French driver’s license.  

  • Your driver’s license was issued in an EU country (or in the UK before 2021)– You are allowed to drive in France for one year after your arrival as long as your license is valid and you satisfy certain conditions.

If your license has expired, you will need to exchange it for a French license.

 

  • Your driver’s licensed was issued by a non EU country – If a reciprocal agreement has been signed between France and that country, and if you meet certain conditions, you may drive for one year after establishing a residence in France before you exchange your license for a French license.

If there is no agreement between France and the country that issued your license, you will need to pass a French driver’s test to obtain a French license.

For more information:

Driving in France with a European license: www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1757

List of countries with reciprocal agreements with France: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/---_liste_permis_de_conduire_valables_a_l_echange_09.12.2021---_cle8735a7.pdf

Exchange of a non-EU driving license: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1460?lang=en

Online process to exchange a foreign driver’s license for a French license: https://permisdeconduire.ants.gouv.fr/demarches-en-ligne/echanger-un-permis-etranger

 

Vehicle registration (carte grise):

If you bring a vehicle from abroad, you have one month to register it and obtain a carte grise.  The registration fee will depend on the characteristics of the vehicle and the address of its owner. Vehicles can be registered online by owners who were born in France and have an INSEE number.  However, persons born outside of France will need to ask a certified garage to register their vehicles. See below for a list of garages certified to register vehicles for a fee. 

For more information (in French):immatriculation.ants.gouv.fr

https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/N367

List of certified garages:  https://immatriculation.ants.gouv.fr/Services-associes/Ou-

immatriculer-mon-vehicule

Online registration process*: https://ants.gouv.fr/monespace/s-inscrire

 

Technical inspection

In France, all motor vehicles must pass a technical inspection (the contrôle technique) within 6 months of the vehicle's 4th year, and every two years thereafter. The test is obligatory and failure to present the vehicle for the control can lead to a heavy fine. A local garage can tell you the nearest place to go for the test.

 

 More information about the contrôle technique is available at https://www.utac-otc.com/

 

Air quality certificates

Some towns require motorists to display a sticker (a vignette) on their vehicles showing how it is classed in terms of emissions and prefectures may restrict driving during periods of peak pollution. For more information,  consult https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

 

Electric car charging

  • There are four charging stations for electric vehicles on-site.  They are all located in the Chartreuse parking lot of the ESRF,  and managed by Ze-Watt. For access, create an individual account at https://ze-watt.com/ and write EPN when registering your institute name. You will be billed monthly by Ze-Watt.
  • Several different networks operate charging stations around Grenoble and throughout France, inlcluding Ionity, Corri-door, Allego, and Newmotion. In most cases, you connect and pay using a card or an app. The Chargemap Pass allows near universal access to various charging station networks https://fr.chargemap.com/

 

More guides to transportation options in and around Grenoble:

International Student and Scholar Office:

https://international.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/getting-organized/daily-life/traveling-and-getting-around/traveling-and-getting-around-784021.kjsp

Grenoble tourism:

https://www.grenoble-tourisme.com/en/practical-information/getting-around/