And if we found earlier than expected the crowds of crowded mornings in transport, the too strong perfume of his galley partner or the clever play of his neighbors to get on the train?
Valérie Pécresse, president of Ile-de-France Mobilité, the organizing authority for transport in Ile-de-France whose losses linked to the coronavirus amount to 2.6 billion euros, claims since Wednesday an acceleration of the process deconfinement in public transport in Ile-de-France. "At the end of the week, we have to lighten the constraints of physical distance while maintaining the mandatory mask," she said on Wednesday with our colleagues from RTL.
Trains can only accommodate 30 to 50% of passengers
According to the one who is also president (Free) of the region, in order to respect the regulatory meter between passengers, trains can only accommodate 30 to 50% of the usual passenger flow.
Indeed, if the traffic of trains and subways has almost returned to normal, the employer certificate essential to circulate at peak times and the need to preserve the safety distances between each passenger, do not allow to transport more people.
VIDEO. How the RATP is trying to enforce distancing in the metro
“The compulsory certificate aims to reserve rush hours for those who have no other choice. But given the latest health data, the economic recovery of the region is urgent to cushion the shock of the crisis. We need to return to normal, ”says one in the entourage of Valérie Pécresse.
The message is clear: it is urgent to vacate the seats that are currently prohibited and to suspend the employer certificate to relaunch activity in Ile-de-France.
"We have to encourage people to get back to work"
However, this eagerness to deconfines divides specialists. Martin Blachier, epidemiologist at the head of Public Health Expertise is in favor of it: “In terms of health, there are no longer any real barriers. One can quite imagine returning to peak traffic levels during peak hours. ”
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SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to spread in confined spaces, "but the concept of time is also important," explains the specialist. In a metro, people are certainly next to each other, but they don't talk to each other, stay for a short time and wear a mask ”.
In addition, “Ile-de-France was very affected. There is therefore a small collective immunity ”, continues Martin Blachier. According to him, “we have to encourage people to get back to work. However, I would recommend people over the age of 60 to avoid rush hour. ”
"A risky bet at this stage"
Jean-Paul Hamon, president of the Federation of Doctors of France, wants to be more careful: "We must not prevent people from living, but we must not relax completely". He recalls that doctors continue to see cases in their offices. So imagine travelers glued to each other in transport ... "I think it's too early. We can wait a little longer. ”
“We are still in a phase of uncertainty, insists for its part, Anne-Claude Crémieux, infectious disease specialist at the Saint-Louis hospital in Paris. The drastic reduction of the virus is the result of an addition of measures: confinement, the natural course of the disease, collective immunity, but also the establishment of physical distance. But we do not know what is the share of each of them. Lifting social distances seems to be a risky bet at this stage ”
This is a precaution that the Plus de Train users association would also like to maintain: “Medef was committed to encouraging jet lag. But few employers play the game, says Arnaud Bertrand. The certificate allows at least to limit the crowd, to encourage to take the bike and to reassure people.
The association believes that it is better to find the usual evening train schedules. “Many lines stop before 9 p.m. If we want to help restaurateurs, the trains should run later. ”
"To stop distancing would be irresponsible!"
On the passenger side, we are not frankly excited by the idea of ironing from 1 to 4 people per m2 in a metro train. "I'm already taking it backwards. If it is crowded, I will find another solution to get around, ”sighs Sophia, on line 6.
On the way to Trocadéro, Aude is perplexed: “I don't know if it's a good idea to encourage people to come back during peak hours. Right now, things are pretty well organized. We have room, nobody complains. Are we within a week or two? ”
On the platforms of line 8, this human resources manager in a bank finds it difficult to hide her anger: “My employees are already super-stressed. If we come back to a rush hour rush hour, no one will come to work! ”
"To stop distancing would be irresponsible," says Isabelle, 36, a user of the L line. This risk is not only weighed on the traveler, but also on his family, his parents. We shouldn't have to go to work in such conditions! ”
Florinda, more fatalist, assures that "in any case, there is already a difference according to the lines". Tracing her numerous daily correspondences, she assures that “there are more and more people. On some lines, 5 or 13, we are already glued to each other. It won't change much. ”
Julien, met on the platforms of line 2 at the end of the afternoon, is one of the few who is not worried. "As long as the mask remains mandatory, it should protect us."
VIDEO. All masked at Saint-Lazare station
