At the time of deconfinement, several large cities, such as Bogota, Berlin and even Milan, are building temporary cycle paths. Mayors are sure of it, their inhabitants will avoid crowded public transport. France too is following suit: Toulouse and Montpellier were the first cities to build "coronapists".

While the virus is still among many, cycling is the safest way to travel short to medium distances. Mathieu Chassignet, engineer at Ademe and used to cycling, is delighted. “This is a compelled opportunity to accelerate the development of the bicycle, which the communities had planned to do within five to ten years: a large network of continuous and secure cycle paths. This is an opportunity to set it up in a few months ”. 

Especially since with deconfinement, social distancing measures will be imposed on buses, trams and metros. It is estimated that the capacity of public transport will be cut at least in half.

Around Paris, these constraints give wings to the Réseau Express Régional Vélo project, the RER V for close friends. A 500 million euro program, 60% funded by the Ile-de-France Region, which aims to build 650 kilometers of secure cycle paths, replicating the metro and RER maps. A network that would connect Paris to the suburbs and avoid paralysis on the roads.

The situation is reminiscent of the strike in winter 2019 where, by obligation, many have adopted two-wheelers to move. "Often the bicycle needs events like these, to break up, to develop. During the strikes in Paris, the use of the bicycle was multiplied on certain days by three, when it was cold or ugly. , we are coming at the end of spring, we are going to have summer. I am convinced that there will be a lot of people going to cycle, "explains Mathieu Chassignet.

In the United States, this reconquest of the city by bicycle takes the form of "slow streets". Streets returned to the inhabitants, where the car agreed to leave a little bit of its space. We hope for a long time. 

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