CTS (Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois) operates comprehensive public transport including six tram lines forming extensive network. The tram revolutionized urban mobility, reducing car dependency while preserving historic city centers. Buses complement trams reaching all neighborhoods and surrounding communes. Cross-border lines connect French and German communities, enabling regional integration. Night services operate limited routes on weekends. All trams provide wheelchair accessibility with level boarding, audio announcements, and visual displays. Buses modernize continuously with low-floor access. Integration with German transport enables seamless cross-border travel. Bike parking at tram stations encourages multimodal trips. Unified ticketing covers all transport modes with various pass options. However, some peripheral neighborhoods remain underserved, requiring transfers for city center access.
Bicycle Infrastructure
Vélhop bike-share system offers 5,000 bicycles at 400 stations throughout the metropolitan area, including electric bikes for longer distances. Protected bike lanes total 600 kilometers creating comprehensive network connecting neighborhoods, universities, and employment centers. Major achievements include Rhine River paths and university campus connections. Cross-border cycling routes connect French and German communities. Challenges include winter weather, bike theft, and conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians in historic areas. However, cycling culture strengthens—cargo bikes appear for family transport, employers provide facilities, and advocacy groups push for improvements. The Maison du Vélo offers repairs, training, and promotion. Integration with public transport improves through secure parking and bike-carrying trams. European connections facilitate cycling tourism to nearby countries. The city aims for continued cycling modal share growth while managing conflicts with other transport modes.
Connections to Other Cities and Regions
Strasbourg's strategic location provides excellent connectivity enhanced by European integration. TGV connections reach Paris (1h45), Lyon, and other French cities. Regional trains connect German cities including Frankfurt and Munich, enabling cross-border commuting and tourism. The Strasbourg Airport handles 1.2 million passengers annually with European connections plus some international routes. Highway networks (A4, A35) connect to European transportation corridors though congestion affects rush hours. Rhine navigation provides freight connections to major European ports. Cross-border cooperation facilitates transport planning and service coordination. The challenge involves managing increasing flows—commuters, tourists, freight—while maintaining environmental standards. High-speed rail extensions could further enhance connectivity. Regional cooperation addresses traffic problems affecting both French and German sides of the Rhine.
Walkability and Pedestrian Areas
Central Strasbourg offers exceptional walkability following comprehensive pedestrianization. The Grande Île prioritizes pedestrians with tram access only on specific routes. Historic streets naturally limit vehicles through narrow passages and medieval layouts. Place Kléber and surrounding squares create extensive car-free shopping and social areas. Rhine riverside paths provide recreational walking separated from traffic. However, some neighborhoods suffer from car-oriented planning—wide boulevards, limited crossings, parking pressure on sidewalks. Improvement projects expand pedestrian priority through tactical urbanism and permanent redesigns. Wayfinding includes multilingual signage serving international visitors. The challenge involves connecting walkable zones across busy roads while ensuring all neighborhoods enjoy equal pedestrian comfort. Tourist crowds sometimes overwhelm narrow historic streets requiring crowd management strategies.