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Sailing

Water Taxis in Vogue on the Seine

June 2, 2008 at 9:35 AM | 0 Comments

Paris commuters now have a new maritime option for traveling to work--and Euro-strapped tourists are in luck with a cheaper alternative to pricey Seine tour boats.

Voguéo, a new fleet of public transportation boats, set sail on Sunday. The boats run from Gare d'Austerlitz train station on the Left Bank and make several stops throughout the city, as far as Maisons-Alfort in the Southeast suburbs.

While the €3 ($4.66) price tag is double what you'd pay on the Metro, it's a bargain for those looking to view the city from the Seine while avoiding tourist trap cruises.

The initiative is part of Mayor Bertrand Delanoë's plan to reduce car traffic by 40 percent by 2020, and the city hopes to extend the program all along the Seine in the coming years. The covered, heated catamarans run from 7 am to 8:30 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 8 pm on weekends.

Related Stories:
· Voguéo [Official Site]
· Paris Ahoy! Commuter Boats Ready for Sail [IHT]
· Velib Bikes coverage [Jaunted]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: STIF]