Overcrowded trams, buses too slow, unwanted cars: the health crisis has opened up an opportunity to make bicycles a leading mode of transportation.
In Nice, the outgoing (and returning) mayor Christian Estrosi has been a supporter of bicycles for several years.
Driven by the ecological push in the municipal elections (first round), he took advantage of the decrease in automotive traffic during the lockdown to test a new provisional network aimed at encouraging the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation to cars and public transport.
The proposed complementary experimental network allows for the interconnection of the city center with the existing paths along the Paillon, on the green grid axes, and the Promenade des Anglais.
“In accordance with what has been said, each of these projects is being monitored in real-time and adjusted according to needs and impacts,” he stated during an interim assessment of this experiment.
Current Situation
Regarding the lanes created on Boulevard Gambetta and Avenue Thiers, which are already very busy, meetings with residents and local merchants have been held to exchange views and make adjustments based on initial feedback.
As for Quai des Etats-Unis, the completion of the bi-directional bicycle path is planned for this weekend and will also provide a wider and more secure space for pedestrians.
In the Madeleine area, the implementation of experimental facilities is still under debate within various neighborhood committees. A working group consisting of neighborhood representatives, the economic community, and bicycle users has been established to develop an arrangement that satisfactorily addresses the concerns raised by all stakeholders in the area.
