“The Agglomeration has engaged in a comprehensive transport policy. Starting September 4th, 29 new generation buses, including 11 articulated buses, will run throughout the Agglomeration. I won’t discuss the tramway…,” Jacques Peyrat, President of the Agglo and Mayor of Nice, came yesterday morning to inspect the new buses of the Lignes d’Azur, lined up neatly along the Promenade des Anglais. At first glance, these vehicles look no different. Same white and blue livery, same ‘Lignes d’Azur’ logo, same spacious cabin as their predecessors.
However, there is a difference. At the request of the Agglomeration, they are equipped with an area and a low floor for people with reduced mobility. The driver’s station has been redesigned: a comfortable seat and a smoother gearbox for the driver’s well-being. For added security, the new vehicles are all equipped with video surveillance cameras. Small blue lights will make evening journeys more pleasant… But above all, these buses are new. “We currently have an aging fleet that needed to be brought up to European standards. It’s a plus for the Agglomeration in terms of the image on the ground,” emphasizes Yvette Lartigau, the Deputy Director of Transport for the Agglo.
The Nice Côte d’Azur Agglomeration Community (Canca) now owns 330 buses. It transports 125,000 passengers daily. The tram service covers 14 million kilometers per year. Prices are increasingly attractive every year. First, the implementation of a unique fare of 1.50 euros for the Ligne d’Azur buses, for a journey from Grasse to Menton. In 2005, a 10 euros monthly subscription for schoolchildren. Soon, a new subscription of 12.50 euros for under-26s, employees, students, apprentices, or job seekers will be introduced.
For a good cause, the Agglo is ready to tighten the belt. “These are public funds, you should know. We had to change the tariffs. The Agglomeration has to pay,” insisted Jacques Peyrat. 17 million euros have been invested in this new initiative to encourage users to leave their cars at home as much as possible.
This is a sustainable development strategy for the Agglomeration. The new buses will run on diesel again. According to European scientific studies, this fuel can reduce pollutant emissions by 70 to 90%. The new fleet will run on “eaudez,” a green fuel made from a water and diesel emulsion. “It’s a particulate trap that eliminates 30 to 40% of particles. Thus, we make gains on nitrogen oxide,” explains one of the managers from the ST2N company, which manages transportation services on behalf of Canca. “The downside is that vehicles running on ‘eaudez’ require more maintenance and strong follow-up. After 7 years of service, there’s a lot of work to be done in terms of revision.”
Halting the planet’s agony, but not at any cost. Electric vehicles are not on the agenda. “It’s an economic issue,” laments ST2N. “The only buses available are minibuses with a 12-hour range.” Thus, the investment is too heavy for Canca.
Regardless, the service is successful. Users are mostly satisfied with the new Line, despite some usual hesitations. “I prefer buses over trains,” says Amandine, a student at the Faculty of Letters, squinting under a bus shelter. “There’s a bit of a wait but it’s cheaper, there’s more comfort. And then, I like to look at the sea through the window.”
These buses are so popular that they become victims of their own success. “It’s a neighborhood service. I go from Nice to Cagnes-sur-Mer every week. It’s friendly and very comfortable. But sometimes it’s so packed that the lovely seats are of no use,” notes Ghislaine, a retiree from Nice.
