While the shuttle slowly performs its maneuver, almost silently, about fifteen people wait on the pontoon of the Saint-Denis canal, this Monday afternoon in the nineteenth arrondissement of Paris.
There are residents of Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis), returning from a family outing, residents of Paris going to the Millénaire shopping center, employees heading to their workplace, too.
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This is the case of Armelle, 49, who arrives straight from Grenoble (Isère), via the Gare de Lyon.
“I take line 14 then 7 to Corentin-Cariou,” she explains.
I could take another route, but to choose, I prefer the shuttle, she smiles.
We're outside, even if it only lasts a few minutes, it's sweet, and still nicer than a crowded bus or metro!
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Up to 6,000 travelers on Saturdays
Funded by Icade (co-owner of the Millénaire) and in service since July 2007, this free electric shuttle was first set up for employees of the Millennium Park and of the warehouses and general stores of Paris (EMGP), on the Aubervilliers side, in order to assist in the marketing of offices.
It then opened to the general public, attracting, every day, several thousand people: before the health crisis, it carried an average of 3,800 daily passengers, and up to 6,000 travelers on Saturdays.
Pre-Covid, the river shuttle carried an average of 3,800 passengers every day.
LP / AL
This Monday afternoon, it is full.
“We're going home,” explains Djemai, 51, who lives in the center of Aubervilliers.
He spent the afternoon with his daughters in the Parc de la Villette.
“We take it from time to time and we like it,” he explains.
Personally, I grew up on the Mediterranean, and we miss the sea a lot here in Aubervilliers, so it's nice to see the water.
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The canal becomes a link between Paris and its suburbs and no longer a barrier
The journey is short, non-stop.
But it makes it possible to connect two activity sites separated by the channel.
This becomes, in ten minutes maximum, a link between Paris and Aubervilliers and no longer an urban divide.
Barely time to pass under the ring road and observe some works of
street art at the water's edge, already docked in front of the shopping center.
A resident of the Quatre-Chemins district, on the Pantin side, Khady, 31, finds that this mode of travel breaks her routine: “It's original, that's what I like.
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In the return shuttle, we also meet many employees of the offices of the Ministry of Justice, installed on the other side of the Millennium Dock.
The small boat, Julie, 40, takes it every day from Jaurès (Paris, 19th century).
She also finds that "this changes transport where we are pressed against each other, especially at this time with the Covid".
“It's nice to be on the water for a few minutes, we take a breath of fresh air,” she says.
In a few minutes, the shuttle will cross the Saint-Denis canal.
LP / AL
Cyril, 47, also comes from the provinces.
He leaves for the Gare de l'Est, also using the shuttle: “It's been several years and it's been pleasant,” he appreciates.
If there was the metro nearby, I'm not saying, but there isn't.
In addition, underground, it is not always interesting.
Here, we have a view of the outside, we see what is happening.
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