Ticks, trains, visas: 5 practical French stories you may have missed

1. Tick map launched to track bites

France has launched a ‘tick tracker’, which shows the number of bites reported in each region for both humans and animals.

For the January 2017 to April 2023 period, the Grand-Est region posted the highest number of bites, followed by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Ile-de-France. The lowest number of reports came in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Corsica.

Ticks can be dangerous as they can spread diseases like Lyme.

Our article on the subject includes tips on how to avoid bites and what to do if you think you have been bitten.

Read more:France’s new tick tracker: See if people have been bitten near you

2. Rule change for train travel refunds

France’s method for refunding trains was placed closer in alignment with EU regulations earlier this week.

Train operators in France are no longer required to give passengers a refund for exceptional circumstances such as weather conditions or people on tracks.

The state-run rail operator SNCF, however, said it will continue to refund TGV (high-speed) and Intercités services that are delayed under these exceptional circumstances.

It is also easier for disabled travellers to request assistance, and a pledge to increase bike storage capacity on trains by 2025 was announced.

Read more:The new rules for train ticket reimbursement over delays in France

3. UK visa-waiver scheme price announcement

The UK’s new visa waiver will cost £10 for Gulf State and Jordanian nationals, it was announced earlier this week.

The digital border system will require nationals from countries that do not currently need a visa to apply for a visa waiver.

It will be launched in stages, starting in October 2023 for Qatari nationals.

Citizens from the EU who do not have residency or citizenship status in the UK will also have to apply for the waiver – but British and Irish citizens and residents are exempt from the scheme.

It will apply to EU nationals after the full rollout, sometime in 2024.

Read more:UK unveils launch price of new visa waiver: when and who is affected?

4. Mayor introduces water tariffs in southern French town

The mayor of Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, has initiated a water tariff that sees the price of water in the town rise in the summer months and fall in the winter months.

The scheme should help citizens be more conscious of water usage, and limit water waste during the summer months.

Prices will increase around 20% from current levels in the summer, and decrease by the same amount in winter, meaning theoretically people will not pay more overall on their bill.

Although Grasse is currently the only city to implement a tariff such as this, it could be introduced in other communes, as a measure to prevent droughts this summer.

Read more:French mayor increases summer tariffs to make people use less water

5. Accidents involving uninsured drivers on the up

A sharp increase in the number of uninsured drivers involved in accidents was recorded last year.

People who are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver should contact the Fonds de garantie des victimes (FGAO).

The FGAO is an association which can help recover lost funds after such accidents, plus an additional 10% on top.

Read more:Number of uninsured drivers involved in accidents soars in France