There was a crowd at Lorient-La Base, Saturday October 5, 2024, for the return of Tara after 18 months of a scientific expedition along the European coasts. The most cautious had arrived early, the others made do with the few places still available. We know that parking at La Base is sometimes a challenge as the places are taken by storm. By those who work there, between the offshore racing center where the skippers’ house is taking shape at high speed, the nautical activity park and the business district. By those, just as numerous, who come to enjoy the place and the cultural and leisure infrastructures with, as their flagship, the Cité de la Voile Éric-Tabarly, whose reputation is no longer in doubt. Thus, despite a somewhat disappointing 2024 tourist season, no less than 70,000 people visited the site and the neighboring Flore submarine museum!
La Base, the center of the new history that Lorient has been writing since the end of the 2000s, is experiencing constant growth. The opening, this Saturday, October 19, 2024, of the Cité des Moussaillon will only increase the already numerous traffic flows and the conflicts of use linked to parking issues. “The subject is very complex because we have a situation today where there is total freedom,” comments Fabrice Loher, president of Lorient agglomeration. The elected official does not hesitate to speak of “anarchy”.
Bike and bus service
In February 2022, the community launched a traffic and parking study in order to provide answers to the difficulties encountered. So, where have we been since then? “We are in the final phase, we are in the process of making the arbitrations,” replies Fabrice Loher. The reflection carried out had a triple objective: to calm traffic, make travel safer and encourage public transport. “We are not only interested in parking and traffic but also in public transport by bike. It has to be a package that meets these priorities. We want to work on the bicycle service, the bus service which is already very good but not sufficiently known,” said the elected official. The discussion also focused on work to requalify roads and public spaces, particularly around K3 and K1.
The interest of traders is that it turns… In general, sucker cars are not good for trade.
Put an end to sucker cars
The work was carried out in conjunction with representatives of La Base companies and users. Traffic and parking surveys, qualitative interviews with businesses and activities in the sector and micro-sidewalk interviews with visitors were carried out. The arbitrations should be known in the fall for a first implementation hoped for in the summer of 2025. If he hastens to clarify that “all this has not been stopped”, Fabrice Loher confirms that there should be “a bit of blue zone and probably a bit of paid parking”. The latter will concern the area near the La Base restaurant which the town has just sold to the current tenant. The decision was made “in agreement with the traders”. It is explained by the need to put an end to sucker cars. “The interest of traders is that it turns… In general, sucker cars are not good for trade.”
