an association fears a rise in insecurity
A time aside, the extinction of public lighting at night in Toulouse will indeed take place, and will come into force this Monday, October 31, date of the transition to winter time. Without the neighborhoods concerned having been announced precisely. A group of pedestrians is worried about the consequences of this decision.
Faced with soaring energy costs, the municipality of Toulouse finally decided to switch off the lights in Toulouse, except in the hypercentre and certain busy neighborhoods (historic centre, Matabiau station, Place Abbal, etc.).
The lights will remain off from midnight to 5 a.m. The first evening without light will take place this Monday, October 31. The measure aims to save electricity as much as possible… But could reduce, according to the association 60 million pedestrians 31, the freedom of movement of pedestrians.
Shortly before the implementation of the extinction of public lighting, the districts which will be exempted from it are not yet known. “This lack of information is already a first elementargues Richard Mébaoudj, president of 60 million pedestrians 31.
“They do it suddenly, without informing people. Some people will come back from vacation and find their neighborhood plunged into darkness. There was no consultation, and this is a first element of dissatisfaction“, notes the associative activist.
In fact, the reactions were few among the 250 members and some 450 Facebook subscribers of the association. “We are in the most total ambiguity. There are areas that will not be impacted. Which ones? The neighborhoods where there are the most crimes? The reverse?“
Thus, 60 million pedestrians 31 fear that the measure will discriminate against certain populations. That “poor clink glasses“.”In any case, it will stigmatize certain neighborhoods“, says Richard Mébaoudj.
At a time of energy sobriety, the car becomes “a luxury“and turning off the lights would penalize pedestrians.”Light is a safety net“, adds Richard Mébaoudj. Stating that in addition to delinquency, an unlit street and poorly maintained roads could lead to simple accidents.
“People are entitled to circular hours from midnight to 5 a.m.“, he defends.We still have the impression of going back to the Middle Ages, where certain streets were real cut-throats.“
Despite everything, Richard Mébaoudj says he understands the meaning of moderation. “If we have a big cold snap and we risk a blackout, we are in favor of ad hoc measures“, he tempers.
But he hopes that the extinction of public lighting, judged as a restriction of freedom of movement, will not be permanent: “with the development of smart lighting, the problem would be solved.“