Subscriptions to the public transport network completely free, or with a price reduction of 50%, 70% or even 90%. This is what the “solidarity pricing” implemented since 2016 by Nantes Métropole already allows. Nearly 60,000 people currently benefit from it, depending on their level of resources (CAF family quotient).
But the community considers that it is necessary to go further in order to both “preserve the purchasing power” of the inhabitants and encourage them to prefer the bus or the tram “rather than the car”. The elected officials therefore voted on new scales this Friday. Objective: to extend solidarity pricing to more households, including part of the “middle class”.
Concretely, the maximum limit has been raised and a fourth tranche was created. “People who are active and who, in the old system, had incomes too high to benefit from solidarity pricing will now be able to integrate it”, explains Bertrand Affilé, vice-president in charge of mobility. Households with a family quotient of 600 to 900 (up to 2,700 euros per month for a couple with two children) will in fact now be eligible.
Another 30% reduction
The first installment will always concern family quotients below 350 and will be synonymous with free, i.e. an annual saving ranging from 120 euros to 500 euros per beneficiary. The fourth tranche (from 750 to 900 family quotient) will offer a reduction of 30%, ie an annual saving of up to 150 euros per person. All members of the same household can benefit from the device.
The new scales will come into force in May 2023. At least 120,000 people could then benefit from the tariff advantages, i.e. double the system currently in force.
Also for bike purchase and rental
Another novelty: cyclists will no longer be forgotten since solidarity pricing, with the same brackets, will also be offered to them. It will apply, from December, to the annual rentals of Bicloo bikes and will save up to 216 euros per year. No less than 240,000 people could be affected.
From March 2023, aid will also be released for the purchase of a bicycle. These subsidies can reach 150 euros for the acquisition of a classic bike, 800 euros for an electric bike and 1,500 euros for a cargo bike. No less than 240,000 people could be affected by these two measures.
Solidarity pricing for public transport cost around 10 million euros per year in Nantes Métropole. An expense which would increase by 1.8 million euros per year from 2023 taking into account the extension of the scales and aid for cyclists.