“Prioritize public transport” except in these departments where 60% of residents have no stops near their homes

Gers and Lot are among the worst-off French departments regarding accessibility to public transport, according to a study by UFC-Que Choisir. In these areas, more than 60% of the population does not have a public transport stop within ten minutes on foot from their home.

“In everyday life, favor public transport”, a way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. A subject at the heart of decarbonization issues but which remains for the moment wishful thinking because it is still necessary to have public transport close to your home.

According to a study published by UFC-Que Choisir, nearly one in five French people does not have public transport within a ten-minute walk of their accommodation. And this report reveals strong geographical disparities which leave many citizens without credible alternatives to the car.

According to the association, “around 17% of the metropolitan population (…) has no access to public transport within a ten-minute walk.” And this figure worsens in rural areas such as Lot or Gers where 60% of their residents have no public transport stop less than ten minutes walk from their homes.

Rural departments at the top in this ranking of the least well off regarding public transport. The absence of a bus stop or train station is particularly glaring in the small towns of these departments since almost half (45%) of the towns with less than 1,000 inhabitants are completely deprived of them.

The consumer association also studied the presence of rail transport (train, metro, tramway) in the immediate environment. “According to our study, 85.3% of the French population does not have a train station within a ten-minute walk,” notes UFC-Que Choisir.

“Many rural areas such as Gers and Lot lack this type of infrastructure,” affirms the association which also extended its study to the accessibility of stations by bicycle.

The method of financing public transport, which relies heavily on a contribution from local companies (the mobility payment), penalizes rural areas while companies are generally concentrated in large urban centers, deplores the UFC.

A study which comes at a time when the CGT railway workers' unions sounded the alarm on Thursday November 7 on the future deterioration of public rail service in Lot and Aveyron.

In question, a staff reorganization project targeting the Gramat stations in the Lot and Capdenac in Aveyron which could reduce the number of trains and connections in the sector. Further impacting users of these lines, already living in isolated areas.

Concerns brushed aside by the management of the SNCF which denies a possible reorganization project.

The UFC-Que Choisir association is in any case calling for a “overhaul of the financing of local mobility organizing authorities guaranteeing them the necessary resources for the development of public transport”.

UFC-Que Choisir will launch a national #Mobility awareness and mobilization campaign. A priority for consumers and public authorities. More than ever, they must act to allow as many people as possible to have access to a quality public transport offer.