This intercommunal cycle network project finally launched was good news which should have gone hand in hand with the Artois Mobilités project for self-service electric bicycles (VLS) in 2025 in the three urban areas of Béthune-Bruay, Lens-Liévin and Hénin -Carvin. But this project is completely called into question: the region has just announced the end of an annual subsidy paid to Nord-Pas-de-Calais which will undermine the 2025 budget.
The objective was: development of bicycle use in the region. 150 municipalities in the three urban areas were affected by these VLS. “ A project yet fully advanced » assures Jean-Pierre Sansen, mayor of Ruitz, member of the board of directors of Artois Mobilités: many municipalities have already chosen and determined their locations for bicycle stations.
Each was to receive at least two bicycles, and the Artois Mobilités union committee was to choose on October 10, the service provider responsible for the supply.
But everything was stopped dead in its tracks the day before, following a letter from the Hauts-de-France Region (and more precisely, from Christophe Coulon, vice-president in charge of mobility) that all the mobility organizing authorities (AOM) including Artois Mobilités is part, have received.
This letter announces the end of the payment of an annual subsidy to finance school transport for high school students from 2025: “ We confirm the end of this non-obligatory participation at the end of 2024, a contribution which will have been paid exceptionally for 14 years” tells us the region, contacted.
Aid which is only paid to Nord-Pas-de-Calais, by choice of the former regional council and which the former Picardy therefore does not benefit from.
This decision to put an end to it would thus come from a question of readjustment through equity for all the departments of the new Hauts-de-France region.
The shortfall for Artois Mobilités amounts to nearly €2.1 million. Decisions are necessary: “ Not having its own tax system, the 2025 budget is at this stage cut by more than €2 million, and we will have to make choices. Due to this lack, elected officials chose to postpone the vote linked to the deployment of the VLS service and therefore the examination of the deliberation until December » explains Artois Mobilities.
On October 11, Laurent Duporge, president of Artois Mobilités, sent a letter to Xavier Bertrand, president of the region aiming to cancel this deletion decision which he describes as “ late and unilateral » and to be surprised « the lack of consultation and the absence of possible adjustments “. He also specifies that this contribution was already below what the transportation of high school students to the union costs today: “ it actually represents €7.8M per year ».
Artois Mobilities still hopes not to have to abandon the self-service bicycle project but, at worst, to postpone it. To be continued.
France
