what results for the experiment with one-way traffic on the Grande Rue?

The experiment with limiting traffic to one direction for cars ended on Wednesday January 16. The metropolis claims to have collected a significant amount of data, which it must use before drawing a definitive assessment.

In Oullins-Pierre-Bénite (Rhône), mobility is a crucial issue. The distribution of the road divides pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. In a desire to desaturation and pacification of the Grande rue, the metropolis of Lyon launched an experiment last July. The busy axis has been limited to one direction of traffic.

The test ended Wednesday, completing the second phase of the project, and the sweeping of cars resumed. But the time has not yet come for a complete assessment. “It’s going to take time,” warns Jean-Charles Kohlhaas, vice-president of the Lyon metropolitan area in charge of mobility, at the microphone of BFM Lyon.

“We have a lot of information, a lot of data. We did counts in January 2024, in May 2024 and in November 2024, counts in the streets, counts of pedestrians, of bicycles…”, relates the elected green. “Counts of bus travel times” were also carried out, as well as a “survey of users of the main street and of traders”.

The next monitoring committee set for February

The experiment made it possible to observe an increase in the number of pedestrians, cyclists (around 140%), bus users, but also motorists. Another observation: transit traffic fell from 27 to 23%.

“That was the objective, even if it is undoubtedly a little weak in terms of reduction,” recognizes Jean-Charles Kohlhaas. At the same time, the number of people “who came from outside, who enter Oullins and who do not cross, who stay in Oullins” has exploded: “We did not expect it”.

The next monitoring committee, bringing together residents, traders and elected officials, is planned for the beginning of February. The opportunity to advance the issue of the future of the Grande rue. “A traffic plan cannot be drawn up on the corner of a table in a few days. It requires studies. There are obviously domino effects when we close a street,” says the ecologist, deploring the opposition principle of Jérôme Moroge. The mayor of the merged municipality is in favor of another scenario, which could also be tested.

In any case, with the prospect of municipal and metropolitan elections in 2026, “I believe very honestly that this is not the right time to make major projects, major changes” for the moment, believes Jean-Charles Kohlhaas.

Motorists in favor of two-way traffic

Not surprisingly, motorists are pleading for maintaining two-way traffic. Pierre, a young driver based in Oullins-Pierre-Bénite, “saves 5-10 minutes. It’s not a big deal but when you’re in a hurry…”, he whispers. “It saves a few minutes anyway. Rather favorable to the double meaning”, asks Samuel.

On the merchant side, the results are mixed. Some, like Fatna Sahin, manager of L’armoire de Céleste, deplore “a big drop in turnover” compared to last year.

“We realized that we had a big lack of traffic. This one-way street and the impossibility of parking in Oullins, it was very complicated,” summarizes the saleswoman, including 45% of the customers. is established outside the municipality.

“Take some space in the car…”

“Local commerce is not only suffering in Oullins, it is suffering throughout France, first and foremost from competition from large shopping centers and especially from online sales,” Jean-Charles Kohlhaas wishes to qualify. “There may have been a one-way effect on some businesses and also a positive effect for other businesses.”

Cyclists, for their part, logically support the return to one-way traffic. “We are asking for the one-way system to be made permanent, from now on, and to continue to work together on developments to move in the direction of the city of tomorrow: taking a little space from the car to give a little space to other modes of travel,” defends David.

According to Jean-Charles Kohlhaas, many advocate the idea of ​​calming the city a little more, widening the sidewalks and greening public spaces. It remains to be seen whether they are more numerous and more convincing than the motorists and traders disappointed by the one-way experiment.