Some people even live along it in houseboats! The bridges are used as landmarks around the city, and make it easy to traverse the river in many places. The river is still important for moving commercial goods in France. It is also an important touristic feature of the city, since there are many popular river boat tours, which create jobs and bring in revenue. There are even pop-up beaches along the Seine in the summertime, so people can go to the beach.
Due to the proximity to the river, people have been forced to adapt and get used to the strong winds coming off the water, especially in the winter. To avoid the wind, most metro stations have multiple exits which help people exit near their destination. Additionally, metro stations are not too far away from each other, which makes looking for shelter much easier.
Flooding is another challenge faced by living so close to a large water source. Evacuations are sometimes necessary, especially for people living on or next to the river. In 2013, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that Paris was not prepared for a major flood and that if one occured, nearly five million people could be affected, with the cost of damages and displacement probably exceeding €15 billion, which is equal to almost $17 billion.
On a small scale, at least, Parisians seem to me to be always be prepared. Everyone always has an umbrella in case of bad weather. However, the thing that has shocked me the most is the sense of direction most people have.
