Par
Manon Varaldo
Published on
Nov. 27, 2024 at 6:16 p.m.
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An eco-district is taking shape in Voisins-le-Bretonneux (Yvelines). Its name: The Discount. Some 500 housing units came out of the ground here. Despite the recency of the project, the 60 Million Pedestrians association is already warning about the cycling and pedestrian facilities, but also about the accessibility of the roads for people with disabilities, considered not up to standard.
Proof? Christian Machu, local correspondent for Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines for the association, begins his stroll at the voluntary collection points for household waste. “There is a stop, which hinders the people with reduced mobilitypreventing access,” he regrets, before tackling pedestrian crossings.
“The awareness terminals on the ground for the visually impaired are not straight, but offset. They thus show the wrong path. They could then head on the road! There are design errors. »
Developments deemed questionable
In the street of the new shedthe facilities for bicycles are also singled out “In this eco-district, where the car has obviously not been sacrificed, the cycle paths are on the sidewalks, and what remains is allocated to pedestrians, notes Christian Machu. People in wheelchairs cannot move around properly. With the street lights, they must travel on the said cycle path. »
“The developments do not respect the technical requirements in terms of width, the standard being 1.40 m minimum free of any obstacle,” deplores Christian Machu.
“A cycle path should not be on the sidewalk”
The activist reminds “that a cycle path is a roadway and should not be on the sidewalk”. “We could have created one on one side of the road, instead of having two parking areas. »
But what appeals to him the most is right on the opposite sidewalk: a “greenway” sign. “A greenway is a road. The pedestrian therefore does not have the right to walk in the middle. Regulations, it cannot be on a sidewalk,” he says again, fearing accidents.
Already an accident at the entrance to the eco-district
“This sign is located near a bus stop serving Champollion college in particular,” also points out Christian Machu. THE end of greenways in this place translates well thedeveloper's embarrassment. But this sign does not absolve him of his responsibility in the event of an accident. »
The member of the national road safety council also mentions an accident that occurred on November 10, 2023 at the entrance to the new district, at crossroads of the RD36 with the RD91. “A young girl was cycling to school and she was hit. She was injured, her fate could have been tragic. »
« This intersection will be more sensitive with the future inhabitants of the neighborhood, but also the church, assures Christian Machu. Facilities are to be expected. »
Contacted, the maire from Voisins-le-Bretonneux indicates having “exchanged with Christian Machu on several occasions”
“The agglomeration of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (the developer of the area, Editor’s note) worked according to the rules in force. »
A national petition launched
60 Million Pedestrians has launched a national petition until February 10, 2025 for roads accessible to pedestrians. As is the case for buildings, the association is asking in particular to make mandatorycompliance checks accessibility for all new or road repair works or even the legal recognition of the sidewalk in the Highway Code.
The petition from the 60 Million Pedestrians association is available online.
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