Recovering from a broken leg. My trip's still on, but I have difficulty going down lots of stairs. As I recall some Metro stations have a lot more stairs to negotiate than others. Escalators are fine. Any advice or specifics. Can't take cabs too often.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
Yes stairs would be hard on your leg.You can try buses but they tend to be slow.Not all the escalators work in Paris. Maybe they fixed them since I was in Paris last time in 2002. :)
be carefull on the stairs because French people move fast and some of them are pushy.Try to stay on the right side. Will you be with someone? This would help.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Yep, lots of stairs in many Metro stations--it's going to be a problem for you, Paris and France, in general, are not yet quite as "accessible" as here. In your situation, I have a feeling taxis are going to start looking like they're worth the money by about your 2nd day.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
Riding the public buses would be another option. There are fewer steps and it's more scenic, anyway.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1850 posts
Can you do one flight up or down? If so, the Batobus goes up and down the Seine, stopping within one to three blocks of almost all of the tourist destinations except Montmartre. Batobus has a web site---I think a two day pass is about $20.00.
The cab we took last month from Montemartre to Opera Garnier (great tour by the way) cost about ten dollars. This wasn't a lot more than two bus tickets and a lot more convenient. From the Opera it was about half a mile walk to the Louvre.
Posted by
Paris, France
506 posts
Anna
All stops on the metro that have the universal disabled sign (person in a wheelchair) have elevators. For example all the stops on line 14.
Escalators vary - and to be honest - they can also be turned off.
Might I suggest you consider the bus as an alternative. The stairs can really vary from station to station. One of my platforms here at home requires me to navigate 88 stairs.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
Anna, My mom doesn't do stairs well. We only saw one elevator, at Abbesses in Montmartre. We saw occasional escalators, but often they were off, or only going one way, not both. My advice would be to only buy carnets of tickets, so you don't feel tied to using the Metro. Use buses when you can do so easily. But budget now for taxis, and don't feel guilty about using them. You will do way more walking than you think you will. Taxis will be a necessary expense.