Unlike many European countries, the oil shocks of the 1970s did not arouse in France of questioning of the “all-auto” model. On the contrary, urban sprawl, the gradual closure of the Ferré desert desert network [commonly known as “small lines”] and the disappearance of local services led to real dependence on the automobile, while lengthening the distances traveled.
Today, our territories pay the consequences of these choices. Faced with the current energy crisis, that of the climate and faced with the devastating effects of the lack of physical activity linked to sedentary lifestyle, let’s not make the same mistakes! It is more than urgent to initiate public policies aimed at a depth transformation of the organization of our territories, a condition sine qua not to the change of our modes of movement.
France, the cradle of modern bicycle and homeland of the Tour de France, has everything to also become a big country for the daily use of the bicycle. Throughout the territory, our fellow citizens are lucid about the issues related to mobility. They wish to reconnect with a peaceful living environment, live healthy, see their children and their parents move calmly. They wish to find the power to live and regain autonomy in their mobility. Finally, they wish to act to limit the serious risks linked to climate change and for the preservation of biodiversity.
combination with public transport
A very effective systemic measure to limit emissions related to transport (a third of the total in France!) is to offer alternatives to the car. The report of the Intergovernmental Experts Group on Climate Evolution (IPCC) notably highlights the remarkable potential of the modal postponement to the bicycle, as well as its multiple cobench: promoting daily physical activities, allow a peaceful and less noisy living environment And free up purchasing power by an inexpensive cost of use.
In order to benefit from this potential, it is necessary to integrate into the new ecological planning of proactive and ambitious objectives to build safe and effective alternatives in all territories. To respond better than the car to the needs of our fellow citizens and more particularly of the 13 million French people in a situation of “mobility precariousness”, it will take a fluid combination between cycling and public transport. This will only be possible with unprecedented investments in infrastructure, rail and cycle, with particular care on the transition from one means of transport to another, in particular the secure parking of bikes at the station and in the living space .
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