Every Friday evening, in the Lyon Mermoz carpooling area, there is a real traffic jam between the many BlaBlaCar users, but also the “Laners”. This little-known community benefits from the innovative concept of home-work carpooling launched in 2018 by the mobility operator Ecov. Among the various lines deployed in France, Lane quickly became “the flagship network”, between the Bourgoin-Jallieu sector (Isère) and the metropolis of Lyon, as indicated by Victoria Cossalter, community developer at
Lane.
The free service has more than 7,000 subscribers, including 3,000 drivers and 1,000 passengers used to sharing around thirty kilometers on the A43 to reach their office in Lyon, Saint-Priest or Saint-Exupéry airport in the morning. from nine municipalities in Nord-Isère. “It offers me an alternative to the Transisère bus line, which is not always reliable, appreciates Jean-Michel (50 years old). We realize that the Lane concept works well, with very regular users and a dialogue that is created more easily than by bus. “
Is everyday carpooling (finally) about to take off in France? https://t.co/DAMJnWQ0Z0
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The driver can receive from Lane up to 9 euros per trip
By definitely opting for Lane, this Isérois working at the Laennec medical school (Lyon 8th) could also save 90 euros of bus subscription per month. While trips via the app are free for passengers, they allow drivers to earn from Lane between 1 and 9 euros for each trip depending on the number of passengers. A commercial encouragement which may encourage some to want to reduce their carbon footprint, especially in view of the significant increase in the cost of gasoline.
Between 6.30am and 9am from the Portes de l’Isère agglomeration community (CAPI) then between 4pm and 7pm in Mermoz, Saint-Priest or Saint-Exupéry, the “Laners” simply indicate on the application that they leave their work, without having to make a reservation in advance. All drivers geolocated around a carpooling area then receive a notification on their phone, as does the on-site light panel, which relays the presence of a passenger waiting for a vehicle.
“The spirit of community is top”
As we have seen, on December 10, the average waiting time was less than 5 minutes, while Lane undertakes to provide the user with a free Uber ride if he has to wait longer. of 10 minutes. “At this moment, the matching This means that you hardly ever need to use Uber, ”emphasizes Victoria Cossalter. Mickaël (42 years old) was thus able to slip into the car of a Berjallian user, who agreed to make a 10 km detour to drop him off at Villefontaine.
It is frankly practical and I risk to privilege more and more often this system compared to the bus. It’s still better in many ways to be several in one car than alone in your own, right? There, the driver did not want to let me wait in the cold. I appreciate this contact with people and the community spirit is top on Lane. “
A female audience to be reassured
“The first driving force is neither money nor ecology, but mutual aid and conviviality. Some members even sometimes offer ski or hiking trips, ”smiles Victoria Cossalter, who organizes breakfasts and aperitifs. afterwork for these convinced “Laners”. “We realize that the success of our shared public service depends on the mentalities of the territories, some being less open-minded about carpooling than Isère”, continues the community developer at Lane. Just before the return to widespread teleworking at the start of 2022, Lane was delighted to have found an activity rate comparable to the pre-coronavirus.
Its major development axis will consist in attracting a female audience. “There are a lot more male drivers and passengers today on Lane, between 35 and 55 years old and CSP +, summarizes Victoria Cossalter. This can be explained by the apprehension for a woman to be alone with a stranger. We intend to put functions in place to allow passengers to know the model or number of the car, which will make our system even more secure. “While crossing your fingers so that the fifth wave of Covid-19 does not go on forever.