“Road construction is knowledge that has been mastered for decades, whereas this is not the case for cycling developments in a country that is not used to doing so. There is a need to look for skills elsewhere than in technical services. This is where the role of associations is important. » Frédéric Bernat, cycling activist and referent in the Plaine Commune territory of the Paris en saddle association, expresses criticism but above all regrets regarding the A 86 Pleyel motorway interchange, in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis).
Led by the State and the Île-de-France Roads Department (Dirif), its design does include a cycle network but its implementation arouses a hint of annoyance, including among elected officials like Christophe Piercy, municipal councilor of Saint-Denis delegated to cycling. “Big rubbish”, he says about the problem of the lights at the entrance to the interchange via the Route de la Révolte. “I am shocked at the danger that has been left until now despite alerts sent to Dirif several weeks ago. »
Read alsoDangerous traffic light, track which is interrupted… We crossed the new A 86 interchange in Pleyel by bike
“It’s a shame, but the State is not used to consultation,” continues Frédéric Bernat. He just does information meetings. When, for example, I understood that the arrival of bicycles towards Place Pleyel would not be arranged, I had to complain to get the plans. »
“Good practices” after numerous failures
Local authorities, on the other hand, have started to consult cyclists before any project in recent years. “The Seine-Saint-Denis department works with the Île-de-France Bike Collective, which contacts associations to provide feedback,” illustrates Frédéric Bernat. And it works very well. There are also technical committees. » These “good practices” are quite recent and also follow some remarkable failures in 2020: the invisible concrete balls of Plaine Commune or the curiosity in front of the line 14 Mairie-de-Saint-Ouen station.
For the Pleyel interchange, “it would not take much to make the development acceptable”, estimates Christophe Piercy. Maxime Gadreau, cyclist and mobility consultant, also wants to salute “capacity tracks, contrasted with the beige color” and “a beautiful landscaping effort on the southern part”.