Toulouse. Numerous demonstrators will disrupt traffic on the ring road: the reasons
Through David Saint Sernin
Published on
They are not against the future Low Emission Zones (ZFE) which will soon be applied to the perimeter of Toulouse Métropole, but they want it to be the subject of improvements.
Parade on the ring road on Saturday
On Saturday 6 November 2021, around twenty organizations representing the automobile and motorcycles will express their dissatisfaction with the Toulouse ring road “To inform road users about the consequences of applying the low emission zone,” they explain.
This large gathering of individuals, professionals in the restoration, repair, vehicle preparation (mechanics, bodywork, saddlery …), associations of old or vintage vehicles, bikers, automobile clubs or motorcycle club will start at 2 p.m. near Sesquières before going around the Toulouse ring road at low speed.
The planned route
The event will therefore cause some disruption on the ring road on Saturday afternoon. The entire device will be affected:
“We have planned a whole route around Toulouse via the ring road. Three stops are planned. Mon at the Ernest-Wallon stadium to materialize the fact that we will then enter the perimeter of the future EPZ. A second stop is planned at the level of Purpan to say that with the future ZFE, motorists whose vehicles no longer meet the criteria, will no longer be able to go to the hospital. Finally, a third stop is planned atat the Cité de l’Espace level, to show that with the future ZFE, families who could not change their old vehicle can no longer access this tourist place by car ”, explains Florent Capoulade from Macadam Passion, an association which offers enthusiasts of all types of “remarkable” motor vehicles to meet.
Protesters from across the region
After a first movement of discontent which brought together 300 motorcyclists on October 2 in front of the Toulouse offices, the protest movement rises a notch.
The demonstrators of Haute-Garonne must indeed be joined by contingents from neighboring departments, “including Tarn, Aude and Ariège”, believes the organizer who wants to make this Toulouse movement “the megaphone of all
the users, the French concerned by this punitive ecology ”.
What the ZFE provides
As a reminder, in order to improve air quality within the metropolis, the future ZFE-m will gradually ban the most polluting vehicles in a perimeter that will include Toulouse (inside the ring road) and a small part of Colomiers and Tournefeuille.
In total, this ZFE will extend over 72 km². The driving ban for the vehicles concerned will be valid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to the schedule initially planned, the entry into force of the EPZ will be gradual. No longer possible to circulate:
- End of 2021: vans, vans and heavy goods vehicles Crit’air 5 sticker and not classified.
- In 2022: the same commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles certified Crit’air 4.
- In 2023: light vehicles and two-wheelers, certified Crit’air 4, 5 and not classified.
- In 2024: light vehicles, two-wheelers, utility vehicles and heavy goods vehicles up to Crit’air 3.
Which vehicles to circulate in 2024?
To date, only vehicles certified Crit’air 2, 1 and electric or hydrogen vehicles, authorized to circulate inside the zone. In total, according to Toulouse Métropole estimates, 47,000 could therefore be banned from vehicles from January 1, 2024.
“From punitive ecology”
“If the intention to reduce pollution and make Toulouse air more breathable is laudable, this punitive ecology is more than questionable in view of the effects for thousands of users, notes the organizers of the Saturday demonstration. Indeed, what about all the craftsmen, drivers, low-income employees with staggered hours, liberals, tourists wishing to visit the Pink City … Of course, support measures exist but do not compensate for the purchase of a vehicle electric. Take your child to the Emergency Department at Purpan hospital, accompany him to high school, go to a match at Stade Toulousain or visit the Cité de l’Espace, buy his motorcycle equipment and other motorized 2-wheelers, as many activities as there are many of people on the territory of Occitania can no longer be carried out “
Their proposals
The organizers therefore propose adjustments to the device as it has been recorded:
“Some cities are currently discussing developments for their EPZs. We have the same type of discussions on Toulouse because it seems necessary to redraw its contours so as not to widen the social divide and to preserve the automobile heritage, the pride of our country ”, assures Florent Capoulade. Some towns discussed, for example, the possibility of introducing exemptions, in particular for vintage vehicles …
During this gathering day, the organizations behind the event will take the opportunity to disseminate a series of proposals (see box below).
The corrective measures proposed by the demonstrators
1. Exclusion from the application of the ZFE to Motorcycles and 2/3 wheel tricycles on the grounds that these vehicles help to fluidify traffic and therefore limit pollution,
2. Exclusion of the A620 ring road from the ZFE. It is a main axis of the Metropolis. This will create more polluting traffic reports on the surrounding roads or errors for vehicles in transit,
3. Exclusion from the application of the ZFE to collection vehicles (low km traveled, are not used for the home / work journey, FFVE action concerning other ZFEs).
4. Derogation for all vehicles, on weekends to allow leisure use (like what is done in Paris).
5. Time exemption for all vehicles (use possible from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., like in Paris). It aims to allow modest households access to the car for daily trips outside the home / work trip which would be covered by public transport …
6. Doubling or more … by the Metropolis, of the first government for the purchase of a “clean” vehicle to accelerate the transition for the inhabitants of the ZFE (may be subject to means testing).
7. Suggest that the Metropolis call on the Government for the creation of a “leisure” mention identical to the Collection use on the gray cards which make it impossible to insure the vehicle for the home / work trip. This would take the vehicle out of the morning and evening traffic flow on weekdays and therefore pollution. They can be registered with a letter “L” on the license plate as the FFVE works for the creation of an “H” for History. This identification concerned all vehicles which would request it. An experiment could be located in Toulouse. A similar process is underway in Reims by the Mayor, Mr. Arnaud Robinet. For information, Toulouse Métropole in 2021, it is 37 municipalities – an area of attraction of more than 1,500,000 inhabitants – 69% of days when the air quality is good in all the departments – More than 5 million tourists
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