cyclists invited to identify the “black spots” in Toulouse
The third cycle city barometer has been launched since last September. Organized every two years by the FUB (Federation of Bicycle Users), it is timely. Since the health crisis, the enthusiasm for cycling has increased. “It is more and more topical and more and more of us are riding bikes”, notes Claire de Besses, member of the Toulouse association 2 Feet 2 Wheels, contacted by The Independent Opinion.
This national survey aims to know the strengths and areas for improvement of each city. “There are general questions and mapping to identify places dangerous for cyclists and recent satisfactory developments,” explains Claire de Besses. travel, cohabitation, bike theft, parking, comfort, location, services… Everything under scrutiny in order to constitute the barometer. The different information collected is useful for associations, but not only.
A survey to make a difference
“This is the only real-time survey. This allows us to show the problems here and there. The answers to the questionnaire are often the same as the observations that we make to elected officials and planners. The barometer also allows communities to see if a development put in place is useful or not “, indicates the member of the association which aims to develop and improve the practice of active modes in urban areas. Users have until November 30 to participate in the survey.
The association 2 Pieds 2 Roues invite them to answer the questionnaire. “The more there are, the more the survey will be representative,” said Claire de Besses. Anyone can give their opinion, even non-cyclists. “We can also respond in several municipalities”, specifies the member of the association. Currently, the number of contributions is 3200 in Toulouse. “It is therefore. It proves that it is not only the militants who answer the investigation”, underlines Claire de Besses to The Independent Opinion.
Results published in February 2022
Several municipalities in the agglomeration have also exceeded 50 contributions. This is the threshold required to appear in the ranking of the barometer of cycling towns. The results of this third survey will be known in February 2022. In 2019, Toulouse had been misplaced. “In the last barometer, it was ranked E on the list of cycling cities. The discontinuity of the developments had been highlighted. This is one of the negative points in Toulouse,” says Claire de Besses.
These data had thus allowed some improvements. “There have been efforts to make improvements. But they are not going fast enough and are not enough in relation to the rise of cycling,” she notes. This third cycle city barometer may help bring change. In any case, this is what associations and users hope. According to Claire de Besses, “pedestrian-cycle conflicts and theft have worsened”. She adds: “This is what is going on at the moment. The arrangements are not satisfactory, although there has been progress.”