If the practice of bikes and scooters has exploded in Paris since December 5, what will happen once the strike against pension reform is over? For the past month, in certain places in the capital, there have been up to twice as many cyclists as in the usual period. Will these historic users of the metro, RER or bus, resume their habits in public transport, or will they continue to pedal, ride, walk? The testimonies of four Ile-de-France residents, which we have collected, show that opinions differ.
"I discovered the bicycle to go to the office," immediately recognizes Stanislas, a 33-year-old insurer who lives in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. Until December 5, those who said they were "rather opposed to the strike, because the extension of their working life meant working longer" took the metro for six stations. Walking included, he had half an hour door to door to reach the center of the capital. By pedaling, twelve minutes is enough for him!
So, Stanislas came out of his parents' an old mountain bike, which is not likely to be stolen in town. And he intends to use it in the future "more and more often, especially when the weather is good".
Self-service bikes… but only in Paris
For lack of personal bicycle, it is with self-service bicycles that Camille has been traveling (in part) for a month to go to work every day. Between her home in Bercy and her office in Gentilly, she uses Jump self-service bikes, until the ring road, before finishing on foot. Because the service offered by the carpooling company Uber is only accessible in inner Paris.
This gives a total journey time of 50 minutes, just ten more than by metro and RER. Does she plan to continue enjoying the great outdoors after the strike is over? "No, because it's still much more convenient by the metro," she asserts.
The scooter, "it feels like a jackhammer"
Clement also intends to find the trains of his line 9 on a daily basis when it returns to normal operation. In the meantime, it's a scooter on the asphalt morning and evening for this young Parisian, 26, community manager by profession. This saves him only a few minutes on the half hour that takes him his usual journey by metro and on foot ... but above all he avoids the bus, which works as best it can but is "very crowded and longer".
Except that the scooter is far too dangerous in his eyes, and not very pleasant. "West of Paris is ultra-paved and when you ride a scooter, it feels like a jackhammer," he illustrates.
At the other end of Paris, Sandrine took the opposite decision. From her home in Vincennes to her business in Place d'Italie, this 55-year-old mother and saleswoman is one of the “converted to a velotaf ” who intends to stay that way. If she does not gain a lot of time morning and evening (30 minutes to go and return), she takes the opportunity to do some physical exercise.
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Not insignificant aspect, part of its route takes it through the Bois de Vincennes. “I did not take the metro for a day, even if line 5 is partially working. And I do not intend to resume it even when the traffic is back to normal, ”assures this Ile-de-France woman who has also equipped herself in bad weather, with an additional headlight and a rain cape.
The economy of the Navigo pass
Sandrine will also take the opportunity to save the cost of her Navigo pass next year. For his part, it is "95% acquired" that Stan will keep his own, even if he will use it less. "My box pays half, and it can still be used," he anticipates. Above all, everything is not so simple with the bicycle. Among the disadvantages, "it's much more complicated to come in a suit, and it's super dangerous", points the finger at this Parisian accustomed to receiving customers.
As for Camille, who recognizes that this social movement "made her discover these Uber of the bike" like Jump or Mobike, she nevertheless plans to continue to "use it outside the office", especially to go out in the evening not too much away from home. On the other hand, for her colleagues who live further away in the suburbs and have to walk more than one or even two hours to get to the office, "no one is ready to continue," she concludes.
VIDEO. Strike of December 5: "I took my bike out of the cellar"