The finding is widely shared. Since the start of the school year, traffic conditions have been particularly complicated to access Rennes. But we never imagined that the Breton capital could position itself as the most congested city in France. Yet this is the case, if we are to believe the ranking established by the magazine Auto Plus from Tom Tom GPS data.
According to this study, Rennes motorists lost 6:05 p.m. in traffic jams in September, which is 3:30 more than last year. Rennes is doing worse than Marseille or Bordeaux, which completed this podium. If the study is questionable, especially on the low use of Tom Tom GPS, this result confirms the observation made by our readers. “The journey time has doubled compared to last year,” says Jéromine. “Since the start of the school year it’s crazy, I put an hour to do 30 km! I’m leaving Brie to go to Longchamps and it’s getting worse and worse, ”adds Marie.
These testimonies illustrate the daily lives of tens of thousands of people who waste long minutes every morning and every evening to come to work in Rennes. A finding that can be explained by several factors. First, by the gradual abandonment of teleworking, but also by the declining use of public transport (89% of usual traffic), weighed down by the health crisis. But also by external events such as the organization of Space or even recurring accidents at rush hour. “As soon as there is a small collision, there are tens of kilometers of traffic jams”, sums up a firefighter questioned by 20 minutes.
Public transport still at half mast
This observation did not escape the elected officials of the city, starting with the mayor and president of Rennes Métropole Nathalie Appéré. “There are still habits that have not resumed, especially with regard to public transport. The difficulties, I do not deny them, they exist. But we will not solve the problem by creating new road infrastructure ”, assures the socialist mayor. “The delivery of the second metro line [prévue début 2022] will be an important response to this problem, with 50,000 fewer cars in the intrarocade, ”she adds.
Are we talking about reindeer corks or is it taboo?
It’s incredible not a day without …#rennes
– jonathan35 🔴⚫️ (@ jonathan35001) October 8, 2021
The problem with line B is that it stops at the edge of Rennes, or almost, and will not solve the congestion of the penetrating lines. Motorists in peripheral municipalities all bear witness to the same observation. ” It’s hell “. “Catastrophic”. “Reading since the start of the school year, it’s hell from 8 o’clock it gets stuck. We lose 15 to 20 minutes going to work, ”says Ronan. On the networks, many residents are calling for an increase in the number of lanes to make traffic more fluid. A false good idea dismantled by all the studies on the subject, which show that the wider the roads, the more car traffic increases, de facto generating even more congestion. “The solutions are elsewhere,” promises Nathalie Appéré. Trambuses will be responsible for unblocking these peripheral axes but they will not be delivered before 2026 at best.
“Let’s not wait until our kids stop breathing”
Several Internet users accuse them of the works, such as the development of cycle paths, of having accentuated traffic jams, in particular by the reduction in the number of lanes reserved for cars. It is probable in some places, but it is a choice of the municipality. Should we wait for the delivery of line B to hire them? “Securing bicycle routes doesn’t have to wait. The solution is to activate all the alternatives to the solo car. Cycling is one of them. This choice, I assume. I assume to implement what we were elected to do, to make Rennes a peaceful city. Do not wait for our kids to stop breathing, ”says the mayor in a firm tone. In one year, bicycle trips have increased by 9 to 10% in the Breton capital.
For those living further away, the public transport solution is not always encouraging. On our Facebook page, several Internet users testify to their attempts, not always crowned with success. “I took the bus for two years and gave up because it was a fight for seats,” says Nawell. She ended up buying a car at the start of the year to complete her 13-kilometer trip in fifteen minutes. ” It was great. Now it’s 45 to 50 minutes ”. “Some residents have no alternative to the car,” recognizes Nathalie Appéré. Without a miracle solution, the metropolis relies on all the others to limit traffic jams.