How do you get around when you live in the flattest city in France? Well you use the TAG system of course!

TAG stands for the Transport de l'Agglomération Grenobloise, or, the transportation system of the greater Grenoble area. This system utilizes trams and buses to get its passengers from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible.

TAG Platform map aka your safety net if you ever get turned around on the TAG system. It also helps you put the city into reference so be sure to keep eyes peeled for this lifesaver!

Now when you use the TAG, it is very important to remember which direction the tram is going.

This marquee is your best friend for using TAG , it gives you the tram line, the direction, the ETA and the time. It also has a second passage estimation so if you miss the upcoming tram you know when the next one is going to be there.

For example, I was on my way home from a friend's house who lives near tramline B so I figured I would just hop heading in the direction of Presqu'île to the Hubert Dubedout Maison du Tourisme where I would then hop on the tramline A heading towards Denis Papin and walk home from the Mounier stop. Easy-peasey-lemon-squeezey. Or so I thought. When I got to Hubert Dubedout, I got on the right side of the platform, heading toward Denis Papin, however I did not read the tram's name. So while I thought I got on the A, I actually got back on the B heading in the direction I just came from, which was a solid tourist move on my part. This detour led to an open air market at Sainte-Claire Les Halles, which offers some of the best looking (and probably tasting food) I have ever seen in my life. This market is usually open everyday, but the biggest market days are on Saturday and Sunday mornings. So while I might have gone in the wrong direction I ended up at an awesome market!

So to save you some headaches here are my TAG tips:

1. Use your map. This seems like common sense, but maps are there for a reason and help you figure out where you need to go, especially in your first few weeks of living in a new city.
2. Understand the direction of the platform you are standing on. You might be at the right platform, but if you are on the wrong side of the tracks, you are not going to wind up where you want to be!
3. Read the marquee on the tram as it is approaching and make sure it is the right line. Don't hop on the tram just because it is at your platform.
4. Find a seat or a place to hang on as soon as possible because trams move fast and you do not want to fall on your face.
5. Pay attention to your surroundings and double check the platforms as you pass them to make sure you don't miss your stop.
6. Exit the tram quickly and assertively; the doors will only stay open for so long.
7. Relax. Even if you wind up going in the wrong direction or getting off at the wrong stop, there will always be another tram.

A stunning example of a TAG tram, lots of room for sitting and standing.

Lisa Brice is the Fall 2015 CEA MOJO Blogger in Grenoble, France. She is currently a Junior at Baldwin Wallace University.

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