French Strikes and Blockades 17th Nov

[Armytwowheels]

Are they blocking the toll roads as well?

 

[Abacist]

We are now at Epernay and got caught at 2 roundabouts on the way here. All four entrances to the roundabout were being temporarily blocked with each car being prevented from moving on for about a minute or so and everyone asked to sign a petition. You got moved on quicker if you signed up so we did! 6 Kim's later another roundabout but with fewer protestors but a Gendarme in attendance.

We also found that Sanef are charging our tag axle N + B as class 4 so we won't be going on many more toll motorways in France. €38 for about 100 miles or so!

 

[Pete5996]

Stupid money, just want to be able to go from Dover

Go Dover-Dunkerque, turn left on the A16 and you're in Belgium in under 10 minutes.....

 

[scousebird]

What with that & the 3am door knockers

I know, I do attract them

 

[PhilG]

Go Dover-Dunkerque, turn left on the A16 and you're in Belgium in under 10 minutes.....

I always do, even that 10 minutes irks me I will drive an extra hour just to not have to go into France any more than i have to.

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[daveandsan]

The aire at Pont-de-L'Arche is one of our favourites. I had a lengthy Franglais conversation with a drunk bloke in a bar there about an umbrella

Stayed there last year on our way back from Twin Lakes.

 

[2657]

Its 120 miles in the wrong direction to spend 28 hours on a boat ... they could pay me to go and i still wouldnt.

28 hours??......

 

[LesW]

I always do, even that 10 minutes irks me I will drive an extra hour just to not have to go into France any more than i have to.

Why is that...?

 

[jongood]

We are now at Epernay and got caught at 2 roundabouts on the way here. All four entrances to the roundabout were being temporarily blocked with each car being prevented from moving on for about a minute or so and everyone asked to sign a petition. You got moved on quicker if you signed up so we did! 6 Kim's later another roundabout but with fewer protestors but a Gendarme in attendance.

We also found that Sanef are charging our tag axle N + B as class 4 so we won't be going on many more toll motorways in France. €38 for about 100 miles or so!

You need to do as the camping caristes Robert, hold the info button and state that its a camping car not a cammion. Ask any of them.

Jon

 

[jongood]

I'm not surprised they re protesting, 40% increase in diesel prices in a couple of years or so, the french people are not that well paid they can't afford it. IMHO Macron is being regretted, it was afterall a bit of a protest vote , careful what you wish for mes amis.

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[Spriddler]

it was afterall a bit of a protest vote , careful what you wish for mes amis.

Hmm, that sounds familiar........

 

[Abacist]

You need to do as the camping caristes Robert, hold the info button and state that its a camping car not a cammion. Ask any of them.

Jon

Hi Jon
If my van was left hand drive I certainly would but by the time we realized Margaret wouldn't know what to say and I am too far away.

Next time maybe I need to create my own protest and blockade the Peage!

 

[Spriddler]

If my van was left hand drive I certainly would but by the time we realized Margaret wouldn't know what to say and I am too far away.

You could always get a bit nearer..........
I travel solo and pride myself on having mastered the art of getting out to use the toll machine.

 

[gus-lopez]

Are they blocking the toll roads as well?

I believe so.

Why is that...?

He is like @Chris probably in that he doesn't like the place.

it was afterall a bit of a protest vote , careful what you wish for mes amis.

Yes 3rd time lucky for Marine Le Pen.

 

[JockandRita]

You need to do as the camping caristes Robert, hold the info button and state that its a camping car not a cammion. Ask any of them.

Jon

I've normally been successful with that one Jon, however, on the A10, Potiers Nord, they weren't having any of it. There were cameras everywhere. Eventually we got through as a Class 2.................................................after sticking it out for 20 x long minutes, and a bit of verbal to the Peage staff by a Highways Maintenance truck driver.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[PhilG]

Why is that...?

Because we got caught in fuel blockade last year.

 

[PhilG]

28 hours??......

14 hours each way..

 

[Northernraider]

Good luck to them
If folk weren't so spineless and self centred in the UK they woukd do the same thing but the last fuel protests here failed because there's no solidarity in the UK anymore.

 

[cliffanger]

The aire at Pont-de-L'Arche is one of our favourites. I had a lengthy Franglais conversation with a drunk bloke in a bar there about an umbrella

Helen Did you ask him:

ce qui monte et descend d’une cheminée, mais ne peut pas monter d’une cheminée vers le haut ou vers le bas?

Google translate so @yodeli will be shaking her head now .... Frankie - the answer is an umbrella!

 

[Paul and Val]

Good luck to them
If folk weren't so spineless and self centred in the UK they woukd do the same thing but the last fuel protests here failed because there's no solidarity in the UK anymore.

Nobody likes paying out taxes but ask the people blockading roads if they want to pay more tax on other items to make up the spending shortfall if tax on fuel was to be reduced (by paying more VAT, Income tax etc) or if they want to cut spending on road maintenance, hospitals, Police, defence etc and they have no answer.

Sadly taxes need to be paid.

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[Northernraider]

Nobody likes paying out taxes but ask the people blockading roads if they want to pay more tax on other items to make up the spending shortfall if tax on fuel was to be reduced (by paying more VAT, Income tax etc) or if they want to cut spending on road maintenance, hospitals, Police, defence etc and they have no answer.

Sadly taxes need to be paid.

If they spent the money sensibly and weren't paid outrageous expenses and wages for poor performance the wouldn't need as much tax.
The motorist is always an easy target and it hits the same people repeatedly.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Macron's policy is to increase the tax on diesel fuel to raise the pump price to the same level as 95 RON unleaded petrol, which until now has always been more expensive, presumably to encourage a switch to diesel cars! This, along with a scrappage scheme for more polluting cars is all part of his air quality ideology. Most cars in France are diesels nowadays. At a time when rising oil prices have added to this tax rise this means that in France diesel costs about 23% more than a year ago. The protesters are complaining that this tax increase is the straw that breaks the camels back. It is hitting their living standards, and they can't make ends meet. Macron is not looking after the interests of ordinary people, only the richest (that's also their complaint).

These blockades could be lifted by Tuesday. They could be repeated until Macron backs down and reduces the tax on fuel.

The fact that our Chancellors have frozen the fuel duty escalator for several years shows that the UK government fears a similar blockade by protestors.

 

[yodeli]

Helen Did you ask him:

ce qui monte et descend d’une cheminée, mais ne peut pas monter d’une cheminée vers le haut ou vers le bas?

Google translate so @yodeli will be shaking her head now .... Frankie - the answer is an umbrella!

LOL .... You will have to give me the English version as Google has obviously misunderstood it. It really is puzzling in French as it is !!!!!

 

[Armytwowheels]

After getting caught out several times yesterday we are on the road trying to make up ground and beat the protesters. Hopefully the yellow vests are still having their breakfast!

 

[yodeli]

After getting caught out several times yesterday we are on the road trying to make up ground and beat the protesters. Hopefully the yellow vests are still having their breakfast!

Don't know where you are now, but do avoid Bordeaux and its surroundings ring roads etc.... They're at it again. Same thing in Lyon's area, and Normandy
Some intend to stay the whole week .... but if it snows I don't know whether they'll be that brave!

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[Armytwowheels]

One blockade down, how many more to go I wonder. A 15 minute rolling blockage by truckers this time.

We are currently heading towards La Mans Frankie. Then towards the Somport Tunnel.

 

[yodeli]

@Armytwowheels Ok , will search if any prob there ....if they are big enough to be mentionned that is. It's very difficult as not political everybody does it its way

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

Let them eat cake.

 

[Pete5996]

For anyone travelling today, a current listing of today's blockades in the Occitan region, to the north of the Pyrenees, here:

https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/20...-sont-les-barrages-en-occitanie-ce-lundi.html

Elsewhere, the page also reports blocks on the A9 north and south of Perpignan, A16 from Calais towards Belgium is closed and the Pont d'Aquitaine at Bordeaux is closed.

 

[yodeli]

• Dans le Nord-Ouest

Des blocages sont également à prévoir en Haute-Loire et dans le Morbihan. Jacline Mouraud, l'une des figures du mouvement, nous a indiqué qu'elle se rendrait cet après-midi à Vannes, au rond-point de Luscanen. Au Mans, plusieurs "gilets jaunes" prévoient de bloquer l'accès à l'autoroute A28.

En Normandie, des barrages filtrants ont été mis en place au niveau du pont de Tancarville. Un rond point proche de l'aéroport du Havre-Octeville est également bloqué.

Then Bordeaux


À 6h30, notre correspondant sur place nous décrivait un bouchon déjà très important sur la rocade de Bordeaux, et qui risque de grossir quand les automobilistes partiront au travail. Une déviation a toutefois été mise en place.

EDIT : Rocade means ring road

Looking now for infos about Somport tunnel

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