I’m travelling to La Vélodyssée by coach
Are you travelling to the La Vélodyssée cycling route by local or long-distance coach?
As of 1 July 2021, in accordance with decree no. 2021-190 of 20 February 2021 relative to the carriage of bicycles on coaches providing freely organised services, all new coaches belonging to private companies and providing a regular intercity service must be equipped to carry up to five bicycles.
As more and more people are travelling to their holiday destination by coach, a review was required of the bicycle transport services offered by coach companies in France.
How to use coach + bike
1️⃣ Check which bus routes allow you to take your bike with you.
2️⃣ If possible, remember to reserve your seat at least 1 day in advance.
3️⃣ Arrive 15 minutes before the coach departs to allow time to organise the pick-up of your cycle. Bring a turnbuckle to lock the bike's brakes so that it can be held in the bus's luggage compartment. ⚠️ Remember to check that you are able to lift the weight of your bike up to a height of 2 metres.
4️⃣ Watch the demonstration video to find out how carrying a bike on a coach works!
National services
When you look at a map of the coach network today, it is immediately apparent that the majority of routes serve arrival and departure points on most cycling trails, including La Vélodyssée and its Atlantic coast section.
BlaBlaCar Bus
BlaBlaCar Bus, formerly known as OuiBus and iDBus, is prepared to take bikes in the hold provided they are in a travel bag, measure no more than 200 centimetres (length + width + depth) and do not exceed 20 kg in weight, i.e., bikes with their wheels removed and attached to the frame, or folding bikes.
source: https://www.blablacar.fr/faq/question/quels-types-de-bagages-sont-autorises-a-bord-des-blablabus et l'équipe BlaBlaBus
Flixbus
For the moment, Flixbus will agree to take bikes if they are in an appropriate travel case or bag. It charges €9 per bike.
source : www.flixbus.fr
Regional routes
Some local coach networks allow bikes all year round. In summer, some extra coaches are fitted with rear bicycle racks. Some put them in the hold.
In Brittany
On the regional network in Brittany, you can travel to Roscoff, Morlaix, Carhaix, Rosporden, Rostrenen...
Reservations are strongly recommended the day before before 5pm, and the Friday before 5pm for weekend travel. Contact the mobility centre: 02 98 90 88 89.
During the summer season, some bus routes offer the option of loading your bike onto coaches equipped with bike racks. Classic bikes and VAE are allowed, cargo bikes, tandems and handibikes are not.
More about coaches in Brittany
In the Loire Valley
On the Pays de la Loire regional network: TER bus routes no. 12 Nantes<>St-Jean-de-Monts + no. 13 Nantes<>La Barre-de-Monts/Fromentine and the island of Noirmoutier + route 17 of the Aléop network from St-Nazaire to St-Brevin + at weekends in July and August route 71 linking Nantes and Blain.
Saint-Nazaire bridge: in summer, the Loire-Atlantique département runs a free shuttle service carrying 8 passengers and their bikes over the St-Nazaire bridge (linking St-Brévin and St-Nazaire), 9 times a day.
;Click here for information and timetables.
Find out more about the buses that transport your bike in Pays de La Loire
In Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Bicycles are only accepted in the hold if the vehicle has suitable facilities, there are seats available and a prior reservation has been made if this is required by the carrier. For more information on coaches in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
In Charente-Maritime, bus line 3/3E between La Rochelle and the Île de Ré allows you to take your bike on board without booking. You can find all the information you need on the website.
In the Landes, the regional XL'R network takes you and your cycle from SNCF stations to the seaside resorts crossed by La Vélodyssée: Mimizan, Léon, Hossegor, Capbreton (Except during the summer period / same for line 7 Léon / Capbreton and Capbreton/ Bayonne).
Find out more about buses for transporting your bike in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
The little ➕: It's possible to use the town of Biscarosse's "Bisca Bus" urban network and the "Côte Landes Nature" summer shuttles, which cover the communes of Léon, Vieille-Saint-Girons, Saint-Girons plage, Contis plage, Saint-Julien-en-Born, Lévignacq, Uza, Lit-et-Mixe, Cap de l'Homy plage, Taller, Castets, Saint-Michel Escalus and Linxe. ⚠️ Bicycles are accepted subject to availability.
What about international travel?
From the UK or Paris, you can travel to Bayonne in a coach designed especially for transporting cyclists and their bikes (in a trailer).
www.bike-express.co.uk
On the national and international network: BlablaCar Bus and Flixbus (acquired in 2019 from Eurolines and Isilines) offer low-cost transport to and from major cities and accept your bike assembled or disassembled. Find out about the conditions for taking your bikes on board by consulting the companies' websites.
