The mayor of Besançon calls for a study to get out of the traffic jams that pollute the city and poison the lives of motorists

Anne Vignot, the environmentalist mayor of Besançon (Doubs) is requesting a study from state services to “understand” the reasons for the traffic jams which are suffocating her city. Difficulties for which it would be primarily responsible, retorts the opposition.

Too many cars in town, too many traffic jams. This time she says stop. Anne Vignot, the mayor (EELV) of Besançon and president of Grand Besançon Métropole, wants to put an end to the traffic jams which are suffocating the Comtoise capital.

During the last community council on November 14, 2024, the elected environmentalist even told elected officials that he had asked the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL) for a helping hand to analyze the problem, and then imagine solutions to decongest the area.

“I asked if we could consider a study to try to understand what is happening, she told the representatives of the city, all concerned by the traffic difficulties. Because while there are no fundamental things that have changed, we do have an increase in attendance.”.

An announcement which raised questions and anger among some, starting with the mayor of Vaire, a small town of 800 inhabitants east of Besançon. “I don't even understand why we're asking ourselves why there are traffic jams, calls out Valérie Maillard. More and more roads are being made one-way, more and more streets are being closed. So, we find ourselves covering greater and greater distances. It seems incredibly obvious to me.”

Ludovic Fagaut, leader of the LR opposition, said he was on his side “stunned.” “My arms are falling, he said to the president of GBM. Not so long ago, you said that there were no traffic jams, today, do you recognize that?”

“It's making fun of the worldassures Ludovic Fagaut today to France 3 Franche-Comté. Many people have asked me: is it a sketch, a hidden camera? There is no need to carry out a study which will still cost public money to understand the reasons for these gigantic traffic jams which bunker down Besançon.” Because for him, the one and only responsible for the situation is Anne Vignot herself.”It’s ludicrous, she’s the one who locked up the city!”

“Since she arrived at town hallhe adds, there are cycle paths in abundance, the closure of the Pont de la République, the terminals of the Battant district, the one-way passage of rue Midol, the changes in the Weiss, Trepillot, Clos-Munier sector, and even the Place de la Rocher in Saint-Ferjeux, all these adjustments which were made under the cover of its anti-car dogmatism.”

It became hell. When ideology takes precedence over common sense, we end up with aberrations. But the truth is that you can't do without the car to get around. It is a reality principle.

Ludovic Fagaut, leader of the LR opposition in Grand Besançon Métrople (GBM).

Ludovic Fagaut is concerned about a study whose conclusions would only reinforce the policy already implemented in terms of transport. “Is it the candidate for the 2026 municipal elections who is asking for this study? Is this an alibi to come and endorse what has been done?”

With the municipal opposition, however, he says he has already made numerous proposals to improve traffic: working with artificial intelligence to streamline flows, opening a “cycle highway” and using old railway tracks to develop new ones. cycle paths, provide users with more information on possible accesses and available parking spaces in real time, reopen certain accesses (such as the Pont de la République), or finally schedule the traffic lights at other times.

Taxi drivers are the first to suffer from these traffic jams. There are 44 of them in the Loop and do not hide their exasperation. “Since 2020 and Covid, we have really felt the difference”, explains Johannes Ussel, the president of the Doubs departmental taxi union (SDTD).

“There is an evolution in pendulum movements, recognizes Anthony Bézard, his vice-president. “There are more and more people leaving Besançon to live in the outskirts and therefore more people entering the city. At certain times of the day, it's a hassle without a name. With a big black spot obviously, it’s Place Leclerc.”

According to their representatives, taxi drivers have largely given up serving hotels and restaurants or certain addresses in the Loop. “Clearly, there are colleagues who no longer come to the city center at all, continues Anthony Bézard. We made a petition with the hotel and restaurant owners six months ago to give us access to the Pont Battant, but we were not heard.” Professionals also deplore these numerous closures or one-way street crossings which complicate their task.

We are forced to take detours and cause traffic to shift on already busy routes. Besançon has a particular geography. We can't push the walls and they put filters on us!

Johannes Ussel, president of the Doubs departmental taxi union (SDTD).

“The slightest accident or even a climatic hazard like rain immediately makes the conditions crazy”he says. And taxi drivers do not imagine that this upcoming study will say anything else.

In any case, it is not surprising that Besançon was renamed “Bouchançon” a year ago by an exasperated resident. The motorist even got involved and thought about a new visual identity for the city which he shared on social networks.

A pun that Ludovic Fagaut used to denounce the congestion of the city's streets at the end of summer, just before the start of the school year, when he was stuck at the Rivotte roundabout.

Contacted by France 3 Franche-Comté, Anne Vignot is sticking for the moment to her public declarations to the community council. While waiting for the return of state services and without going any further on this visibly very chaotic path of traffic jams in Besançon.