The day of reckoning has come. The “One month without my car” operation, carried out with six voluntary households, residing in the Carré de Soie district in Vaulx-en-Velin, near Lyon, has enabled us to learn some lessons. At the end of the experience, the participants “wish to permanently modify their journeys”, Sytral said on Monday. Four families would even consider separating from “their or one of their private car,” he said in a statement.
Some caveats, however. While the 22 people who took part in the experiment mostly used public transport on a daily basis as an alternative travel solution, most of them underlined “the problem of doing their shopping and certain purchases without a car”. “Carsharing and carpooling can be alternative solutions which deserve to be even more valued”, analyzes Béatrice Vessiller (EELV), vice-president of Sytral.
The experience renewed in 2022
“The discovery of advantages linked to the use of new modes has doubled trips for the majority of families who have found it easier to get around than by car, notably by pointing out benefits such as saving time or further reduction of stress ”, welcomes the elected ecologist.
Households who participated in the experiment had a mobility kit allowing them free access to all alternative transport offers: bicycles, scooters, TCL, car sharing and carpooling. A significant advantage. All, without exception, used public transport. But not visibly to other modes of travel. Finally, “two-thirds” of participants indicated that they wanted to perpetuate their TCL subscription.
In view of “the encouraging results”, and convinced “of the possible margins of progress”, the elected representatives of Sytral indicated that they intended to repeat the experience “in another territory” in 2022.