• A new meeting area has been created in Rennes to make it easier for pedestrians to cross when exiting the metro.

  • Several other metro stations should soon have the same device, registered in the Highway Code since 2008.

  • In fact, the paint on the ground did not change much in the behavior of cyclists and motorists.

Small white arcs have appeared in recent days on the ground of the quai Chateaubriand, in Rennes.

Installed on the road, at the exit of the new metro station, they aim to protect the crossing of pedestrians between Place Saint-Germain, where a market is held every Wednesday, and the footbridge crossing the Vilaine.

This new painting preceded by an information panel is supposed to create a “meeting zone” where traffic would be calmed and pedestrians more serene.

This device wanted by Rennes Métropole should soon be deployed around other metro stations such as “at the station and at the Colombier”, according to the services.

But is it effective?

"Meeting zone": signage for peaceful and safe traffic around #Rennes metro stations... And yes, what did you think it was 😉 It's simply in the highway code 🛤️ pic .twitter.com/kl9BmgmjJi

– Rennes City and Metropolis (@metropolerennes) January 24, 2023

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Registered with the Highway Code since 2008, the meeting area has already been tested in Rennes.

The most "known" is undoubtedly that of République, which sees thousands of pedestrians passing by daily towards the Town Hall Square.

On a wide strip of several tens of meters, walkers have the possibility of crossing where they want.

Cyclists, motorcyclists or motorists, who are limited to a speed of 20 km/h, must give them priority.

The problem at Saint-Germain is that almost no one has noticed a change.

Dried priorities and even insults

In a few minutes spent observing the new device, we did not observe any change.

Not a motorist was driving at 20 km/h.

Some even cheerfully withdrew priority to pedestrians who were waiting to enter.

And cyclists bypassed people who were already in the way.

We will even dare to confide.

This is the very place where a busy craftsman insulted us when he had to let us pass.

According to the association Rayons d'action, it is the development of the area that is the problem.

"The contradictory signals are numerous there, starting with these barriers, as well as this pedestrian crossing which has no place to be", explained the collective on Twitter.

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