Getting there and back

Key points

• Plan the way there and two routes home, with an offline map.
• Get off one or two stops before the start of the march, park far from the route.
• Leave before the end if tension rises, and as soon as warnings are given.
• Don't go home alone, and send a "home safe" message.

The journey matters as much as the march: plan the way there and back, with a plan B if transport closes.

Before you go

• Prepare two routes home, on foot to stations away from the route.
• Download an offline map (Organic Maps): the mobile network often saturates on site. Tutorials for each app in the pre-protest checklist.
• Check traffic information the same morning: stations can be closed at the prefecture's request, and the list changes until the last minute.¹² Traffic info and bike sharing in big cities (TCL, Vélo'v, RTM, Tisséo, TBM…): directory "traffic info" · bikes.
• Carry a ticket and some cash, a charged phone and a power bank.
• Set a meeting point with your group, away from the route (never stay alone).

Getting there

Public transport

• Get off one or two stations before the start of the march: the nearest are often closed or packed.¹

Car-sharing

• Organise it with trusted people (collective, union, friends), and share the journey and expected return time with a contact who is not protesting.
• Park far from the route, in a street you can reach on foot even if the area is cordoned off.

Bike and bike-share

• Lock your bike away from the route, with a good lock.
• With a bike-share (Vélo'v, Vélib'…), return it before joining the march; check in the app that a dock is free near your starting point.
• Avoid pushing a bike through a dense crowd: it gets in the way of a quick evacuation.

On foot

• Comfortable closed shoes, water, and a clear idea of the exit streets (kit and outfit).

Getting back

• Leave before the end if tension rises: dispersals often happen at the tail of the march.
• At the warnings, leave immediately by a clear street (dispersal and warnings).
• If your station is closed, walk to the next one rather than waiting there.²
• Don't go home alone, especially at night; send a "home safe" message to your contact.
• If you were tear-gassed, change your outer layer before taking public transport (first aid).

Back home: decontamination and care

If you were exposed to tear gas:³

• Take off clothes from the bottom down: unbutton or pull down; avoid pulling jumpers or T-shirts over your head to keep from rubbing gas crystals across your eyes or face.
• Cold shower first: warm or hot water dilates skin pores and reactivates the CS gas burning sensation. Rinse thoroughly with cool water for several minutes without scrubbing before using soap.
• Wash clothes separately: machine-wash them on their own, away from the rest of your laundry, to avoid contaminating other clothes.

The "I am on my way" path

In one of these situations? on my way to or from the protest · a beginner (it's my first protest) · threatened or attacked by the far right · older · young or a student

Sources

Each note links to the source of the information. Most sources are in French. Laws change: check the date of the source and, if in doubt, ask a lawyer.

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1. RATP — Traffic information (station closures on protest days) · AI-sourced on Oct 28, 2026 · awaiting human check ↩↩

2. Le Monde du droit — La fermeture temporaire d'une station de métro pour maintien de l'ordre public est licite · AI-sourced on Oct 28, 2026 · awaiting human check ↩↩

3. Soins post-manif (booklet) · AI-sourced on Oct 28, 2026 · awaiting human check ↩