More than 600 kilometers of roads are now limited to 30 km / h since Monday morning in the city of Nantes.

The measure, which is the subject of a citizen consultation, is very badly received by taxis.

"It's ecological buzz and money pump", denounces one of them, Claude, Monday at the microphone of Europe 1.

REPORTAGE

Since Monday morning, the people of Nantes have to ease off behind the wheel of their car.

The reason ?

More than 600 kilometers of bitumen are now limited to 30 km / h in the city.

Already adopted by several metropolises in France, such as Grenoble, Lille, Rennes or Angers, the measure is very poorly received by taxis in the Nantes area.

"It's ecological buzz and money pump", denounces one of them, Claude, Monday at the microphone of Europe 1.

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"It's the cash drawer that will work for them"

For this driver, the measure borders on demagoguery.

"Already, 50 km / h in the city in some places is quite complicated to keep. So 30 km / h ... It's impossible. So it's the cash drawer that will work for them, they will gain money, "he asserts.

For his part, Manuel is worried about potentially damaging future consequences.

"Unfortunately, if we have to drive at 30 km / h, I tell you right away: if a customer is going to have a plane to catch, we are going to make sure he has it. 'is our license which is taken, "feared the driver.

Radars, especially educational

However, Bénédicte Levionnais, who is in charge of transport at Nantes Métropole, assures us: the idea is not to track down drivers on every street corner.

"There will not be a police officer installed behind each 30 km / h sign", she tempers.

"Our police officers have other things to do I think. There will inevitably be radars, in particular educational at first. The idea is also to make things happen through education."

For the City, the objective is to promote public transport and soft, non-noisy and non-polluting travel.

"Soon, the bikes will go faster than us. And there will be risks of devolution. At 30 km / h, you will no longer be so focused, you will look left and right at things that are happening", laments Salem, one last taxi driver.

In Nantes, the measure is the subject of a citizen consultation until October 15.