Getting Around Lyon

(Image source: APA-2006)

The TCL (Transports Commun Lyon) is very convenient and has four metro lines, two tram lines, and buses. The student price (upon presentation of student card) is about 30€/month.
Where to get a Metro card (Carte técély)?
Vieux Lyon station is where I am positive you can get a metro card, and also where you can recharge it by paying with bills. An ISIC card and maybe even your home university's student card will work.

The regular fares for tickets:
1,50€ - Ticket à l'unité - travel in one direction
2,10€ - Ticket liberté 2 heures - 2 hours free travel in any direction
4,30€ - Ticket liberté 1 jour - a day ticket
10,50€ - Will get you a booklet of 10 student tickets
and after 7pm, 2,10€ will get you a soirée ticket that is good for free travel until the end of service.

A few things to know about the TCL:
-Bus drivers make change for you.
-You can recharge your metro pass at the machines in the stations but they don't take bills, nor always cash for that matter, and only the carte bleue (French ATM card).
-You can also buy tickets from certain points de service which are usually tabac shops where you can purchase a ticket or booklets of tickets.
-The funiculaires are little trams that go uphill into Vieux Lyon.
-Works on an honour system but there are periodic ticket checks. The fine is about 35€ (if you pay on the spot which they usually force you to do) - 70€ (I've been told that this is the price if you don't pay right away).
-Will warn riders at least a few days in advance of a strike that may result in perturbations de services (trans. service disruptions). File these words away in your memory because you will probably see them often.

The Vélo'V is a communal bicycle system with stations situated all over Lyon. An annual membership costs about 5 € and allows you access to bicycles where the first hour and a half are 0,50€ and then 1€/additional hour*. A weekly membership is about 3€. You can also sign up if you have a metro card get even better discounts.
The one drawback of the Vélo'v system is that it is really only for locals (to France) because they do not accept any means of payment other than the carte bleue.

Walking everywhere is quite feasible in Lyon if you have the time or plan ahead enough. I walked from Croix-Rousse which is in the 4e arrondissements to my apartment which is in the 3e in about 90 minutes one night.

Travelling by car is usually considered the fastest way of getting around in Canada but, in my opinion, it's not worth it to have a car in Europe unless you plan to leave town a lot, or stay for a long time.
In addition to gas being insanely expensive, French driving is an art form in itself. The streets are narrow and not always well-paved. Driving in France also requires you to get used to crazy moto riders zipping all over the place. The conventions around parking are also quite different to Canada. French cars are typically half the size of American cars, and French drivers are quite adept at making their little cars fit into little spaces. My friend remarked one day that many drivers don't seem to bother with the parking brake, perhaps to lessen the impact on the bumper when the car either in front or behind is trying to get out.