Toulouse. The future rue de Metz and security
While work on underground networks has already started on rue de Metz, the future development of the artery in a semi-pedestrian zone (cost 12 million euros) worries the association 60 Millions of pedestrians and its very active president Richard Mebaoudj . Also making himself the spokesperson for associations of the disabled, he fears, in a recent press release sent to La Dépêche, that the separation between the two-way cycle lane and pedestrian areas is insufficiently welcomed by the difference in colors of floor coverings. And to worry about the safety of PMR pedestrians (people with reduced mobility) and in particular the visually impaired, “who will not see their bikes and scooters rushing towards them”.
When questioned, Julies Escudier, the elected municipal representative in charge of the city center, believes: “Mr. Mebaoudj speaks a little on behalf of others, the only one who wrote to me on this subject, it is him. The associations representing PMR do not call for large sidewalks with one step. But there will be a difference in level between the pedestrian and cycle spaces, gently sloping sidewalks on the model of what was done in the rue des Lois “.
For the elected, “it is a question of reconciling as well as possible the uses. The idea is to be able to cross in safety in any place of the street of Metz and not to have to wait at a precise place. visual handicap, orientation strips on the ground are provided for the guiding solutions .. The differentiation of the various uses must be clear, beyond the visual, there must be no intrusion on the space of the other. But when the pedestrian crosses, he has priority “. The elected recalls that, on the town center side, a vegetated strip and plantations will separate the widened pedestrian space from the cycle lane and that furniture (chairs, baskets) will do the same, on the exterior side. Raised platforms allow cyclists to slow down at the three street crossings.