While the coronavirus continues to circulate in France, public transport is experiencing a drop in attendance in Île-de-France.

This is down sharply there, regular users turning to alternative means of transport, including cycling.

In total, a third of usual travelers did not return to transport at the start of the school year.

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Another effect of the health crisis.

On the occasion of this new school year, the return of crowded metro and RER trains was the fear of public transport users in the Paris region.

But while some lines are loaded again at peak times, general ridership is still down sharply.

In total, a third of regular travelers to Île-de-France have not always returned to transport.

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"As long as I can do it by bike, I do it by bike"

Despite the return of holidaymakers and the start of the school year, many public transport users seem to have permanently chosen another option for getting around.

Result: 60% attendance this summer on the RATP lines, and 65% in recent days.

Same observation on the Transilien network where the suburban trains managed by SNCF only have 60% of passengers.

In one year, that's over a million fewer people per day.

Among the explanations, teleworking which is perpetuated in Île-de-France, but also the preference given to the car for some, and especially to the bicycle.

"With the Covid, I got back to cycling, I changed my habits," says Marie-Christine at the microphone of Europe 1. Usually a metro passenger, the latter has swapped metro line 13 for a two-wheeler.

"I took two lines, I took 30 minutes, I put 40," she explains.

"I have health problems, I prefer not to take the metro for now. As long as I can do it by bike, I do it by bike."

For now, she specifies ... Indeed, traffic jams on the cycle paths are beginning to make her doubt.

Between May and August, these tracks attracted 67% more bikes compared to 2019. The Velib ', for their part, experienced a peak in use a few days ago with more than 200,000 races in 24 hours.

That is twice as many as a year ago.