- Six temporary facilities to encourage cycling have been installed in Nantes.
- For the moment, there is not a crowd even if there are indications that the use could develop rapidly.
Nantes, quai de la Fosse, at the end of work. Motorists are advancing along the cycle lanes. Nothing very new, you would say, with a few nuances: red and white studs now separate cars from bikes. Above all, the circulation space of the latter has been enlarged at the expense of the former. Not far away, the configuration is the same on the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge. Boulevard Guist'hau, a yellow line appeared to the right of the road. The Saint-Mihiel bridge, for its part, was completely closed to cars.
In total, six temporary arrangements of this type have been put in place since May 11. Like other cities, and due to the health crisis, Nantes wishes to give more space to soft travel and focus on "tactical town planning". Which goes in the direction of Julie, assistant of direction: “Usually I alternate between bicycle and bus to go to work, explains the young woman. With what is happening, the mandatory mask, I really did not want to resume public transport ... "" Cycling is a little daily pleasure, says Damien. We take the fresh air, we do not fear much by pedaling. "
"Symbolic progress"
While the bicycle has already exploded in Paris, it is not yet so spectacular in the City of the Dukes. If some cyclists that we have encountered find these facilities "useless", others remain hungry. “It's a start, a symbolic advance, judge Annie-Claude Thiolat, president of the association Place au Vélo. This plan is intended to expand. The town hall announces that it will soon take care of boulevard Guy Mollet and rue d'Allonville. "The rue de Strasbourg is also a priority," advises Annie-Claude Thiolat. Our wish is that the car parking will disappear. The installation of temporary bicycle supports is also expected.
Because in a metropolis that is still far from reaching its target of 12% of the modal share of cycling within ten years, this health crisis is seen as an opportunity. According to Place au vélo, this take-off from the practice would only be a matter of weeks, with employees still teleworking and repair shops that will take several weeks to satisfy all requests. Financial incentives (reductions for Bicloo subscribers, 50 euros repair check) and the appearance of ephemeral places devoted to cycling (as soon under the Naves) could also improve things.
Vitorino did not count on it to get back in the saddle. “Before, I took the Bicloo or the tram. But there I no longer have too much confidence, even for the Bicloo. It was the right time to get my bike out. "
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What about pedestrians?
Temporary improvements will also be made "gradually" around "some schools and shopping centers", says the town hall. Objective: "to guarantee the distance of pedestrians" in places with a lot of traffic.
- Cyclist
- Transport
- Coronavirus
- Nantes
- Covid 19
- Deconfinement
- Bike