It is a measure that would relieve the daily lives of Ile-de-France residents during this heavy period of health crisis. But the Navigo pass, which allows nearly three million travelers to use public transport, will not be free in April, nor during the period under confinement.
However, elected officials of Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM, the organization that manages transport in the region) are pushing in this direction and the question was even raised last Friday, during the board of directors chaired by Valérie Pécresse .
"The RATP unions are in favor because this free service would allow certain employees of the Régie to no longer be present in stations, such as those responsible for automatic payment machines for example, supports Jacques Baudrier, adviser (PCF) of Paris and administrator at IDFM. And contrary to what is suggested to the president of IDF Mobilités, free entry would not encourage unauthorized employees to use public transport. The 500,000 people who have to go to work don't do it for fun. Let's make their lives easier. "
If Paris and its region opted for free transport, the measure would follow in the footsteps of other French metropolises such as Lyon, where the Joint Transport Union for the Rhône and the Lyon urban area (Sytral) has undertaken to reimburse transport subscriptions in full. throughout the confinement period.
No free during confinement
Last week, IDFM announced that reimbursement was not the priority of the moment. “Today there are employees who can telecommute and those who are forced to travel to go to work, confirms the entourage of Valérie Pécresse. It would be unfair to reimburse one and not the other. "
Last December, the president of the IDF region obtained reimbursements for thousands of users due to the lack of minimum service during the unlimited strike against the pension reform.
Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic in Ile-de-France, the majority of users have been confined to their homes. Attendance is no more than 5 to 6% compared to normal at RATP and around 10% at SNCF. The frequency of trains and buses has also experienced a serious brake.
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This Thursday, public transport will suffer a further decline, including the closure of fifty metro stations and the stop of metros and RER from 22 hours, as indicated jointly, this Wednesday, Ile -de-France Mobilités, RATP and SNCF.
"As 90 to 95% of users, including many subscribers, stay at home, they have no reason to pay a subscription, supports Marc Pélissier, president of the National Federation of Transport User Associations (FNAUT) IDF. Instead of a complex system of subsequent reimbursement, we recommend the implementation of free, exceptionally, on the IDF network on April 1. For the 5 to 10% of users who really have to travel (like carers), not making them pay in April seems to us a welcome gesture of solidarity. "
We have just asked as elected @PCF free transport to @IDFmobilites during confinement
The 500,000 people who have to go to work (caregivers, salaried workers in food, energy, etc.) do not do it for fun
Let's make their lives easier
Suspend your subscription, what a hassle!
During this time, holders of an annual Navigo pass, who tried to suspend their subscription before the deadline of March 20 to avoid paying the month of April, did not take off. Because a simple online suspension is not enough. You must go to an agency or an automatic terminal for the suspension to be effective. "Physical" procedures made impossible since the introduction of containment.
“Tuesday March 17, I took the steps online to suspend my annual Navigo from March 30. The online service told me that this suspension would only be taken into account once my pass was updated on an automatic kiosk… ”says Adeline, who has lived in the Oise and telecommuted since the start of traffic restrictions. She then presented her pass on the machine at Persan-Beaumont station (Val-d'Oise). But the machine responds: "No update to perform. "
You have to go to agencies ... closed
Adeline does not stop there. She writes to Navigo customer service. "Know that the suspension of the Navigo pass is technically not possible because it is not compatible with the sanitary confinement instructions," he was told. We are considering an alternative solution compatible with health recommendations. As soon as it is stopped, the information will be communicated. "
Alerted on this issue, IDFM has been working for several days on solutions that should be announced before the weekend. “The health regulations prohibit trips that are not required by work and the Navigo agencies are mostly closed. It is an exceptional situation. To change the suspension mode, this requires technical developments that we are currently looking at, ”explains IDFM.
By then, Adeline and hundreds of thousands of Navigo subscribers will have their bank accounts debited. “I don't see myself paying 150 euros for April and May, while I don't leave my home in the Oise! She is sorry.
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