When you call an Uber, it’s often a shiny sedan that shows up. In Lodève (Hérault), on the foothills of the Larzac, it’s a completely different vehicle that goes pouët-pouët under your windows: the green bee, an employment-oriented company (EBE), launched last spring an on-demand transport service… in 2CV! Lodévois who wish, especially the most fragile, can thus book a deudeuche tour, to go to the doctor, to the hairdresser, or do small errands.
“Lodève is a small town of 7,500 inhabitants, which does not have intramural public transport, explains Rémi Schnebelin, referent of the Ecomobility pole at the Abeille verte and driver of the 2 CV. There is transport to go to Montpellier, or to go from town to town, but intramuros, there is nothing. And no taxi accepts to take charge of intra-Lodève races. The idea was to fill this gap. »
L’Abeille verte offers trips between 3 and 5 euros, depending on income
For the elderly, this device is a small revolution, in this town in the Hérault hinterland. “Sometimes it’s even the children who call us, telling us that their father or their mother is still taking their car at 85, and that if we could accompany him, it would be really great”, explains Marie Thomann. , the director of the Better Being center in Lodève, within the EBE. Especially since the Abeille verte has no intention of foraging the portfolio of Lodévois: this EBE created within the framework of the Territory Zéro chômeur scheme, which has no profit-making objective, offers journeys to 4 euros. People with low incomes can even benefit from reduced prices (3 euros). And those who have a little more means can also pay a little more (5 euros), to show their solidarity with other users.
“It’s a very good service, which was lacking a lot in the village,” says Gilbert, 92, who, due to vision problems, can no longer drive. “I’m in the heights of Lodève, and it’s a service that allows me to get around while saving my legs,” explains Martine, who was one of the first to climb into this 2 CV. And the drivers are very, very pleasant! Because Rémi Schnebelin and his comrades willingly lend a hand to the most vulnerable users, when necessary.
“Extending the life of a vehicle is less costly, in terms of carbon footprint”
But why… a 2CV? For ecological reasons, first. So, yes, this 1980 convertible antique runs on gasoline. But, assures Rémi Schnebelin, “extending the life of a vehicle is a cheaper solution, in terms of carbon footprint, than buying a new vehicle. We are encouraged today to buy an electric vehicle. But in reality, the longer the life of a car lasts, the more the carbon footprint of its construction is reduced. ” If the Green Bee fell for a 2 CV 6, the last model built by Citroën before the end of its production, it is also because the team wanted ” a vehicle that is remarkable and noticed, continues Rémi Schnébelin. When it drives in Lodève, passers-by see the users who are seated inside. And vice versa. Visibility is two-way. If it was a traditional car, nobody would notice the users. That was important to us. »
And ride a 2 CV, the Lodévois love it. Especially people who experienced the golden age of this cult car. “It definitely does something to them! smiles Rémi Schnebelin. “I’ve had lots of 2CVs in my life, I know that,” smiles Martine. When she arrives, before seeing her… We hear her! It is necessarily successful, because we don’t see too many of them anymore. Gilbert, he even finds “the sensations” he had when he was riding, when he was younger, in a deudeuche. “Besides, it’s a very good 2V,” he continues. For short trips, it’s perfect. This even contributes to creating a real intergenerational bond, when younger users settle on the vintage seats of this Citroën of yesteryear. “Sometimes we had young people, who accompanied their grandparents, and who had never been in a car like this,” says Rémi Schnebelin.
L’Abeille verte is planning to expand its fleet of atypical vehicles in the near future to meet the growing demand for races. The EBE will soon be putting scooters and bike taxis into service. And maybe even other old vehicles.
To contact l’Abeille verte: 04 67 44 92 70 or [email protected]