Urban Europe looks to future without cars: La Rochelle: Free bicycles for all and flat-fare taxis
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Free communal bicycles, a shared taxi system with a fixed fare and electric cars are among the experiments being carried out in La Rochelle, in western France.
The 'little yellow bicycles' are available in the summer to tourists who can ride them free for up to two hours and are then charged six francs per hour.
In September, the town authorities intend to make the scheme a permanent one and allow local residents to use them.
The taxis are available 24 hours a day and are obliged to take people to any destination within the town's boundaries for a fixed fare of 28 francs ( pounds 3.36), no matter how many passengers are being carried.
In this way, according to Jacques Tallut, the director of public transport in La Rochelle, 'taxis become complementary to buses, providing the answer to all transport needs'.
With Peugeot and the French national electricity company, EDF, the town authorities are experimenting with electric cars which, Mr Tallut said, have a great deal of potential. They could be used as second cars in affluent households for urban use, or even as a shared communal vehicle like the yellow bicycles.
La Rochelle has also created a single ticketing system for all public transport, which includes waterbuses operating between various points in the port area, as well as buses and the taxi service.
This comprehensive public transport network system is backed up by a sophisticated information system which can be consulted either at home by telephone or in the street, advising people when the next bus or boat is expected.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments