EUMO 2024 - What priorities for our mobility?

However, investment in mobility infrastructure requires considerable, ongoing funding, the returns on which are often visible over the long term. Around 25 billion euros are financed by local authorities, largely concentrated on public transport infrastructure in major conurbations. The State contributes 15 billion euros via subsidies for rail, road and bicycle transport. However, these funds mainly benefit the major metropolises, leaving many suburban and rural areas without suitable solutions.

 

Transport Minister François Durovray recently stressed the importance of pragmatic, cost-effective solutions tailored to people’s real needs. Speaking at EUMO 2024, he stressed that “we need to find solutions that don’t cost too much and that are carbon-free”, while emphasizing the optimization of existing infrastructures and alternatives such as carpooling and express coaches. He also added that priority should be given to transport that offers a real alternative to the private car, particularly in rural and suburban areas.

 

Peri-urban and rural areas, home to almost 40% of the French population, are faced with a crying lack of suitable transport solutions. In rural areas, 70% of journeys are made by private car, creating inequalities and exacerbating environmental problems. The development of subsidized car-sharing, for example, represents an interesting opportunity. Initiatives such as Mobicoop have demonstrated their effectiveness, with an average occupancy rate of 3.5 passengers per vehicle, reducing pressure on roads and CO2 emissions.

 

 

In France, 12 million people live with a disability, but only 60% of public transport infrastructure is adapted to their needs. The development of services such as G7 Access Taxis and on-demand transport systems for people with reduced mobility offer improved accessibility, but these services remain costly and not widely available outside major cities. Additional subsidies for these solutions would help meet growing demand. Promoting shared and flexible modes Shared and personalized transport solutions, such as shared VTCs or autonomous shuttles, are a promising avenue for more sustainable and inclusive mobility. In Toulouse, for example, the Navya program’s autonomous shuttles carried over 100,000 passengers in 2023, while reducing operating costs by 20% compared with traditional bus systems.

 

The Grand Est region is a prime example of the challenges and opportunities associated with mobility in France. By 2022, the region has allocated over 1.2 billion euros to mobility, including 600 million euros for public transport infrastructure. However, much of this investment has been concentrated in urban centers such as Strasbourg and Metz, leaving rural areas relatively underserved. Initiatives such as the Fluo Grand Est network, which brings together several intercity lines and regional trains, show that efforts are being made to improve mobility. For example, 18 new lines were opened in 2023, better connecting suburban areas to urban centers. However, solutions such as carpooling remain under-exploited in the region, with only 2% of home-to-work journeys made by carpooling. The city of Nancy has taken initiatives with shared VTCs and autonomous shuttles, which have shown promising results, with operating costs 25% lower than those of conventional bus routes.

 

The Grand Est, like the rest of France, faces major mobility challenges. The State and local authorities must continue to subsidize mass transit solutions while promoting more flexible and inclusive models, such as car-sharing and shared transport, in order to meet the diverse needs of citizens while limiting environmental impacts.