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Paris: ‘Flying’ water taxis to be tested on River Seine

The seemingly madcap image of 'flying' water taxis ferrying Parisians up and the down the River Seine could soon become reality with tests on the futuristic vehicles to go ahead.

Published: 27 October 2016 08:37 CEST
Paris: 'Flying' water taxis to be tested on River Seine
Photo: SeaBubbles
Parisians could soon have another mode of transport to get to work in the morning.
 
Flying water taxis, named Sea Bubbles, are to be tested on the River Seine in spring at the request of the environmentally conscious Town Hall, which is always looking to be innovative.
 
The Sea Bubble is the creation of French yachtsman Alain Thébault, who said his dream was always to make sailboats fly.
 
In fact, it's something the Frenchman has been working on for the last 25 years, he writes on his website, starting with building wooden models and more recently breaking sailing speed records.
 
 
The “SeaBubble” – “a bubble with four wings” – floats above the water, and can reach 18km/hr thanks to two small electric motors. It is powered by solar energy through panels on the vehicle.
 
“The idea actually came from my daughters after I sailed from LA to Hawaii recently,” an energetic Thébault told The Local. 
 
“They told me to invent a zero-emission cab because they were sick of seeing the pollution in Paris, London, and in the US.”
 
Not a man to waste any time, Thébault set about designing the Sea Bubble, a vehicle that would essentially float 70 centimetres above the water surface, only making contact with the water via its four “marine wings”, or foils.
 
The vehicle is designed like a Fiat 500, he says, with the same technology but different propulsion. The wings under the boat essentially lift it off the water, reducing the drag significantly. 
 
In Seine! Flying boat taxis to take to river in Paris

And the vehicle could work as a taxi service along the River Seine, where there are far fewer traffic jams than along the roads alongside. 
 
 It is designed to fit four passengers and a driver.
 
“Initially, there will be drivers, but quickly, our vehicle can become autonomous,” he added.
 
The project is already backed by several investors, and 100 people have already registered interest in owning their own bubble. 
 
Apart from attracting the attention of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo the Frenchman says he has fielded calls from companies including carmaker Renault and the Uber ride-sharing app. 
 
Now, Thébault is working on some design tweaks to make the vehicle easier to use.
 
Then, anyone with a spare €30,000 can call themselves a proud owner of the Sea Bubble, if all goes to plan, and Anne Hidalgo can proudly boast that Paris was the first city in the world with the little bubble cabs.
 
But she better be quick. London has also shown an interest in the Sea Bubbles. Hidalgo would not want to lose that race.
 

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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