Just thirty years ago, on January 20, 1995, the brand new Normandy bridge made it possible to cross the Seine via its estuary. After seven years of work, its 856 meter deck and its two 214 meter high pylons have become the symbols of Normandy and, above all, a time saver when going from Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) to Honfleur (Calvados). In 2024, it will still see more than eight million motorized vehicles pass in both directions.
At a time of global warming and the boom in soft mobility, the superb work has not yet moved up a gear, point out cycling friends, who complain about the status quo. Regularly, the associations meet with the manager, the Seine-Estuaire CCI, the departments of Calvados and Seine-Maritime and the Normandy Region in order to request specific development, ideally a cycle path.
“There has been no notable progress in 2024,” notes Christelle Cubaud, vice-president of AF3V. We did not have any follow-up for the shuttle which was to be put in place in April. We had two meetings during the year and only managed to get a counting camera installed at the bridge toll bar. Between March 11 and October 15, there were 5,220 bicycles and small cars passing in both directions (on the lane reserved for pedestrians, editor's note). We were surprised by this high figure given the terrible weather conditions and the work. This is not anecdotal compared to the 700 bicycles transported on board coaches on line 122 Caen-Le Havre. »
Users are demanding secure solutions, “in particular the development of a dedicated track which was under study. We no longer hear about anything from the Transport Infrastructure Department (DIT). The other solution, recalls Christelle Cubaud, would be a shuttle to go from one side to the other. »
-For the moment, on the Honfleur side, notes the association, “they have simply installed signs in French and English to send cyclists back to the bus station and it is currently being considered to do the same thing on the other bank “. Cyclists must travel three kilometers to reserve a seat on a bus and hook their bike to the back. Knowing that there are only four places per passage, a total of 16 per day in one direction and the same in the other, they must be motivated.
Lower the speed to 70 km/h?
The associations therefore want a return to the discussion table to “set up the experiment of lowering the speed to 70 km/h permanently and to create a mixed pedestrian-bicycle space and, in the meantime, the continuation of additional studies and the creation of additional places on board coaches. We will not give up, warns Christelle Cubaud, or they will officially say that they are not interested.”
Arguments that the AF3V association does not put forward only to satisfy local cyclists. “This axis, she does not fail to point out, is on the European road bike Vélomaritime, in the running to be designated as the most beautiful in Europe next February 14. Why did you put it on this axis? Certainly, the view is great and industrial tourism exists, but the Normandy Bridge could be an example of intelligent diversity in a very touristy region. It is the will that is lacking at the start and mentalities must change. So, let's blow out the 30th anniversary candles in memory of the past but put the subject of soft mobility in the present! »
