In Toulouse, self-service electric scooters are no
Several large cities in France have been facing for several years the occupation of public space by a multitude of free-floating operators (self-service rental, generally via a mobile application) of electric scooters, bicycles and scooters. After being overwhelmed, Bordeaux Métropole launched a call for expressions of interest (AMI) to retain only the best and regulate their presence from September 2022.
For Toulouse, it is out of the question to get there. “I am against the electric scooter (self-service)“, confides Jean-Luc Moudenc, mayor of Toulouse and president of Toulouse Métropole. This position, the first official and public of the mayor of the fourth city of France on the subject is only a half-surprise.
In October 2018, the American company Lime had installed a large fleet of its machines overnight in the streets of the Pink City, but without the agreement of local authorities. Anger at the Capitol, which then threatened legal action for unequal occupation of public space. Results ? Less than 48 hours later, the self-service electric scooters were gone.
However, after this episode, several local elected officials including that in charge of Transport, Jean-Michel Lattes, had assured that a substantial specification was in preparation to launch a call for tenders and thus welcome such a service in Toulouse. But the mayor of the city and president of the Metropolis has decided.
“I had to arbitrate on the subject at the start of this mandate. There is already a lot of competition between all modes of transport, which overlap, intersect and try to cohabit. If I add another, I risk jeopardizing the comfort of many users (of our public space) and the safety of others. I look at what is happening in Paris, Bordeaux and elsewhere… I do not want the same situation for Toulouse “, explains Jean-Luc Moudenc.
Scooters have the green light
Nevertheless, the position of the local elected official is not identical depending on the vehicle offered by the free-floating operator. Since July 1, 300 self-service and untethered electric scooters, green in color, have been visible on certain sidewalks in the Pink City. They belong to the Barcelona-based company Yego, which won the AMI launched in June 2021 by local authorities. The Dutch company Felyx should also make as many electric scooters available in the Pink City soon.
“Electric scooters combine ease and speed, I am for”, does not hesitate to justify Jean-Luc Moudenc.
The installation of these two free-floating operators mainly follows the hasty departure of the operator Indigo Weel, which offered electric scooters and self-service bicycles in the streets of the city until the end of 2021. Pink. But he preferred to withdraw at the beginning of 2022, after a fire in his operational center in mid-December.
Inter
To accompany this self-service electric scooter service, the City of Toulouse also intends to provide electric bicycles. However, it does not rely on a free-floating operator for this, but rather on its public service “VélôToulouse”, launched in November 2007.
“As the contract with JCDecaux is about to expire, we will take advantage of the new call for tenders to improve and expand the existing service”, indicates the mayor of Toulouse, who pays around five million euros each year to the service provider.
Only, this bill could well climb with the roadmap for the next contract which should last between 10 and 12 years. With 2,600 bikes available at 283 stations so far, “VélôToulouse” will take on a new dimension, according to the words of the city councilor.
“We are going to increase the number of stations by 50% and therefore also the number of bicycles and we will have half which will be classic bicycles and half which will be electric bicycles“, explains Jean-Luc Moudenc. “The share of electrically assisted bicycles may be increased during the contract to reach 75% of the fleet without ever being less than 50%. The number of stations must not exceed 550 stations and the number of bicycles must not exceed 4,500 bicycles”nevertheless specifies the call for tenders that The gallery consulted and for which the candidates have until August 1 to position themselves.
A great novelty, the municipal bicycle rental service should be set up in the municipalities on the outskirts close to Toulouse such as Blagnac, Ramonville and others, in order to encourage the inhabitants of the agglomeration to favor this mode of transport. Thus, 75 stations and more than 500 bicycles could end up outside the municipal perimeter of the city center. “The goal is for this new system to be ready for the end of 2023“, announces the president of Toulouse Métropole who has just inaugurated the new urban cable car.