Not easy for seniors who do not have cars or can no longer drive, to do their shopping in the most remote corners of Lozère. An initiative, led by two associations and supported by the prefecture, aims to offer elderly people who live in the vicinity of Fournels, Saint-Chély-d’Apcher, Le Malzieu or Peyre-en-Aubrac a low-cost means of transport. , to lead them to the nearest town.
It is the Lozère Mobility Agency (ALM) and Secours Catholique which are at the origin of this innovative system. “The principle is to bring the inhabitants of the hamlets or farms to the town on market day, along a defined route. There they can do their shopping, go to the hairdresser or the doctor. And at the end of the morning, we take them home, ”explains Rémy Cassabel, the director of the ALM.
Two to three euros round trip
They are volunteers, volunteers, who will transport them in their cars. For seniors, the cost is 25 cents per kilometer, or two or three euros on average for the round trip. Volunteers providing a space in their car are compensated.
For the moment, since the target audience is rather elderly, the service will operate by telephone (07 66 03 55 97), where an adviser will provide information, including timetables and cost. The ALM hopes to eventually extend the service to the entire north of Lozère. For now, the territory covered is about thirty square kilometers.