Many people think of French culture as flamboyant and free-spirited, which can often be the case — but for those in the know, France also has a reputation for stiff rules and decorum. This begins with personal etiquette, such as greeting everyone with “bonjour” and properly kissing the right people on the cheek; then it extends to France’s towering government bureaucracy. This is a culture that has a regulation for everything, from banning headscarves in schools to forbidding pig-owners from naming their swine “Napoleon.” And this fastidious nature extends to the Paris Metro.
Case in point: Paris’ subway stations are designed for one-way foot traffic, and if you walk in the opposite direction, you may receive a fine. These often consist of special corridors that are intended for one-way walkers. Now, lots of subway systems have rules about how people move around — but a $57 fine for briefly strolling the wrong way?
The law drew international ire in 2018, when a pregnant woman attempted to take a shortcut. As reported by the BBC and others, the woman received a ticket for the infraction. Commenters zoomed in on the policy: Why would security punish someone for such a minor offense? According to the story, “a number of other metro users complain[ed] that they had been targeted the same day.” This may be especially hard to believe for travelers who encounter unruly line etiquette on their French vacation.
When in Paris, do as the Parisians do
