A proactive choice with a bicycle express network, services and assistance
Increase the proportion of journeys made by bicycle from 3% to 10% by 2026: this is the goal the Metropole has set itself to give cycling its rightful place, and to offer, along with public transport, a genuine alternative to the private car.
With the expertise of Copenhagenize, a firm specializing in bicycle urban planning, the realization of a comprehensive "Bicycle Plan" includes infrastructure, assistance for cyclists and devices.
3 sets of lanes will eventually make up the offer for work, leisure, tourism :
- Vélolignes montpelliéraines, which will irrigate the territory of the metropolis, with 235 km of safe cycle paths planned, 170 km of which will be completed by 2026 (70% of the network);
- the Anneau Vélo to link the major cycle routes serving Montpellier city center;
- a complementary local network: liaison and proximity networks, built on the initiative of the communes.
The 4 main thrusts of the "bicycle" policy
- development: 235 km of safe cycle paths programmed, with 170 km completed by 2026;
- balance : better sharing of roadways between the various modes of travel. A single lane can accommodate seven times as many bicycles as cars;
- convenience: parking lots and lock-ups to facilitate bicycle use and combat theft;
- accompaniment: widespread use of bicycles encouraged by financial aid; safety - thanks to the development of bicycle lanes and raising awareness of the rules and reflexes of good conduct (publication of a "street code").
235 km of "montpellier velolignes
This will be the backbone of the metropolis' cycling network.
Objectives:
- ensure safety and comfort thanks to cycle paths mostly separated from car traffic;
- offer direct routes with few junctions;
- secure intersections;
- guarantee consistent pavement quality and regular maintenance;
- facilitate connections with specific, regular signage;
- offer an alternative to commuting ;
- secure access to secondary schools to encourage cycling;
- serving leisure facilities (piscines, mediatheques, cultural venues).
The network:
- 4 bypasses on the outskirts (Juvignac > Castelnau-le-Lez, Gare Sud de France > Gare Sud de France, Carnon > Juvignac and Gare Sud de France > Castries);
- 11 radials
In addition to these facilities, there are bicycle lanes built by the communes.
From one mode of transport to another
To make it easier to switch from one mode of transport to another, the "Vélolignes montpelliéraines" network will be connected to tramway and bustram lines, and to stations. Travel will be facilitated by the development of car-sharing areas.
The commune of Cournonsec, for example, is creating a multimodal interchange hub (future Cournonsec-Gennevaux bustram line), linked to a cycle lane and a road.
The benefits of cycling
- Speed and punctuality: cycling in the city is, on average, 2X faster than by car;
- Savings: getting around by bike every day is 10X cheaper than by car;
- Environment: using a bike instead of a car contributes directly to improving air quality;
- Health: cycling every day reduces the risk of chronic illness by up to 40%. Cycling is a stress reliever. It improves sleep and concentration;
- Enjoyment: the pleasure of cycling.
Cycling facilities already in service or in the pipeline
- Transformation of temporary lanes into permanent, safe lanes.
- Cycling continuity between existing lanes.
- 30 km of lanes, transitional or permanent, developed since 2020.
- 170 km of cycle paths made available by 2026.
Increase the proportion of public space dedicated to cycling
Montpellier's new traffic plan, in force since June 2022, aims in particular to offer more space for bicycles. More generally, the plan aims to:
- adapt the city's operation to the arrival of the tramway line 5
- organize traffic between neighborhoods on the ring boulevards and through traffic on the road bypasses;
- get through-traffic out of the city center.
These major orientations contribute, directly or indirectly, to concretely improving, in all neighborhoods, the share of public space, particularly roadways dedicated to bicycles, with dedicated lanes.
Financial support for bicycles
From November 2020 to December 2023, the Metropole provided assistance of €500, without means-testing, to residents of the Metropole, for any purchase of a new electrically-assisted bicycle, made from a partner vendor in the Metropole.
The end of this scheme has been postponed 3 times by the elected representatives of the Metropole, as the success of this policy has been massive.
Assessment as of September 15, 2023:
- 33,185 applications for assistance have been funded, representing a total of €16,135,236.
- 9,959 other applications were in process, representing a total of 43,144 requests.
Other financial supports were set up in parallel:
- €1,000 for the purchase of a cargo bike or scooter by a professional
- €500 for the purchase of an adapted electric-assist bike
- €200 for the purchase of a second-hand electric-assist bike or electrification kit
- Up to €30 for repair assistance
In total, around 80 million euros (support from the Metropole, local authorities and the State plus the cost to cyclists) have been injected by this scheme into the local bicycle economy.
Secure parking
To facilitate bicycle use and combat theft, different facilities are available:
- Véloparcs: 19 free, enclosed spaces under video surveillance, accessible 24/7, located close to the tramway;
- Véloboxes: currently being deployed, secure shelters for professional or personal use, available with paid subscriptions and/or reservation;
- Temporary bike racks: installed during one-off events;
- Bike racks: 4,460 installed in the metropolis, including 4,290 in Montpellier.
"Know how to ride a bike": a scheme to train children
Securing children's routes is reflected in a scheme unique in France, "Savoir rouler à vélo". Since the 2021/2022 school year, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole has made a subsidy fund of nearly €120,000 available to the 31 communes to help them implement this training. 2,200 CM2 pupils have already benefited.
With input from associations, this apprenticeship takes place in three stages: the basics (keeping your balance, pedaling, turning), driving (Highway Code and signage) and riding in real-life conditions, independently.
Bicycle totems: visitor numbers
Find all the bike crossing data at different locations in the Metropole.
