Orleans main (terminal) railway station is hemmed in to the west and south by busy roads. However there is a series of pedestrian crossings to the south leading to Boulevard de Verdun, with a helpful, but tiny, green "Vers La Loire à Vèlo" sign. This joins Rue de la Rèpublique, a semi-pedestrianised street with trams running down the centre. There are several No Entry signs, presumably to restrict traffic, but Street Google shows people cycling and there are bicycle stands. Follow the tramlines to the second stop De Gaulle and then, where the tramlines turn left, take the right fork along Rue du
Cheval Rouge. This leads to a pedestrian crossing across the quayside road (D2152) and on to a cycle/pavement. Follow the path, under Pont Maréchal Joffre, to the distinctive Pont de l'Europe. Here the route becomes more rural, see photos, but it does seem to be continuous. Just before the A71/E9 motorway bridge there is an alleyway that goes back up to the D2152 and across a pedestrian crossing to a friendly Buffalo, see photo. The red sign in the distance, below the traffic light, is for a Grill Courtepaille, another photo, with the F1 sign just beyond.
Those of a nervous disposition may consider that at night the main road is safer than an unlit tree lined path alongside a river. In which case rejoin the D2152 at Pont de l'Europe and follow it round to the left at the next main road junction (on to Avenue Georges Clemenceau). Street Google shows the hint of what may be a cycle lane on the righthand side of this section of the road. Look out for the Buffalo.
An alternative route is to follow part of the tramline towards La Chapelle St Mesmin. The De Gaulle tram stop is the interchange point between the north-south Line A from the railway stations and the east-west Line B to La Chapelle St Mesmin. Follow the tramlines west from De Gaulle along Rue des Carmes, Rue Porte Madeleine and Rue du Faubourg Madeleine to the point the lines take a sharp right turn up hill. Continue straight ahead to come out at the road junction on the D2152, the one just beyond Pont de l'Europe.
Incidentally, Line B loops round to a point (on Avenue Gegorges Pompidou) just a couple of hundred metres from the Buffalo grill. At €3 for a return journey into the city centre it is a good enough reason not to eat there. In the city centre Line B also has an interesting centre rail pick up system, formed of alternate 8m energiseable sections separated by 3m neutral sections. The 8m sections are only energised when a 32m tram is over them - according to Alstom.
Clyde, I will meet you at Orleans des Aubrais station. There will probably be less traffic to the east of the lines between des Aubrais and the terminal station, so we could either head for the route to the river from the main station or aim for a pavement cycle route further east that goes direct to the river.
