“We are lifting the brakes on mobility by bicycle,” explains Pierre Tebaldini, cabinet director of Lagny-sur-Marne in the agglomeration. Another good reason for citizens to travel other than by car? In any case, this is the whole objective of this first Seine-et-Marne section of the Vélos Île-de-France (VIF) network, inaugurated on Thursday May 23 by Valérie Pécresse, the president of the Ile-de-France region, and Jean-Paul Michel, the president of the Marne-et-Gondoire agglomeration. This state-of-the-art cycle path connects, in ten kilometers and via several towns including Lagny-sur-Marne, the Vaires-sur-Marne nautical base and the Serris-Val-d’Europe RER A station.
Ultimately, this line – called V4 – should connect Val-d’Europe and Cergy-Pontoise, via Paris. For the occasion, the president of the Île-de-France region made the trip, got on a bike and rode on the path, 10 km long, 7 of which were entirely created in the territory of the Marne-et Gondoire conurbation.
An investment of 7 million euros
To complete this section, in record time – less than six months -, 7 million were invested, 60% financed by the region. This project dates from the Covid period when cycling associations requested the creation of new cycle paths. “The idea is to create real highways for bicycles to Paris and to remove the last obstacles which could prevent some people from replacing the bicycle with the car,” explains Pierre Tebaldini.
“On this first section, the cycle path is wide, made of beige coating, with directional signs specific to the VIF and the corresponding ground markings. The curves are almost all very flexible. The intersections are treated with a colored resin,” explains Louis Belenfant, director of the Collectif Vélo Île-de-France, at the origin of the VIF network.
While he is delighted with the completion of this project, certain that with good arrangements practices can evolve, he points out some improvements to be made such as the addition of reflectors, warning lighting but also road marking. ground approach. “The region has confirmed that it will do what is necessary. For the rest, it’s quite exemplary and we hope to see this type of development develop quickly in the rest of the Ile-de-France region! », he concludes.
