==Overall information=='''Le Mans''' is a medium-sized town in western [[France]] with a population of 300,000. It is an important motorway crossroads towards [[Paris]], [[Nantes]] and the Atlantic coast (A11), Brittany and [[Rennes]] (A81), Normandy and [[Rouen]] (A28), which makes it quite important for hitchhikers.
Le Mans is a middle-sized town in Western France (urban area : 300.000 inhabitants). It is an important motorway crossroads towards [[Paris]], [[Nantes]] and the Atlantic coast (A11), Brittany and [[Rennes]] (A81), Normandy and [[Rouen]] (A28), which makes it quite important for hitch-hikers.Despite its relatively small population, the town is very spread out since it is mostly built with individual houses (its area is similar to the one that of [[Lyon]] which is about 7 times as populated). Therefore, crossing the city with public transportation or, worse, by foot, takes a long time. You really should try to skip the city if you don't plan on stopping.
===Public transportation=Hitching in == If you're on the motorway, and your driver doesn't want to get into Le Mans, ask him to let you off at the '''Le Mans : Nord''' exit. He can then make a u-turn and get back on the motorway after lettin you off on the parking place. You'll be in the Zone Industrielle Nord (Z.I. Nord for short), a big industrial zone in the North. From there, to get to the city centre, you can either : - Hitch-hike - Walk (50 min) - Take bus n°8 towards République. The stop is behind the big Auchan supermarket, quite well-hidden. Beware, it doesn't come very often, and doesn't drive on sundays.
To this day, there is only one tramway line which crosses the city on a South - Northeast axis, between Antarès and the University. Works have started for a 2nd line, it should be ready towards mid-2014.
Buses are the only other public transport solution, the city having no subway and only one train station.
A ticket (tram or bus) is €1,40, you can purchase it from the bus driver or from automats at the tram stops. It is valid for 60 minutes.
==Hitching out==
Get on the tram towards Université (north), and get off at the last stop. Go around the big ice skating rink (''City Glace'') and try to hitch a ride on the avenue Olivier Messiaen. There's plenty of space to stop (even for a truck), and any driver can let you off at the toll station some 5kms further. From there, you should rather easily find a car if you have a sign.
==Hitching inNomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
If you're on the motorway, and your driver doesn't want to get into Le Mans, ask him to let you off at the '''Le Mans : Nord''' exit. He can then make a u-turn and get back on the motorway after lettin you off on the parking place. You'll be in the Zone Industrielle Nord (Z.I. Nord for short), a big industrial zone in the North. From there, to get to the city centre, you can either :{{nomadwiki}}
- Hitch-hike - Walk (50 min)[[Category:France]]
Take bus n°8 towards République. The stop is behind the big Auchan supermarket, quite well-hidden. Beware, it doesn't come very often, and doesn't drive on sundays.[[fr:Le Mans]]