100% free buses, the residents of Niort are now used to it and do not plan to go back on this free service implemented in 2017 by the outgoing mayor, the centrist Jérôme Baloge who is a candidate for a second term. It was one of his campaign promises in 2014.
The candidates for municipal elections, too, do not want to question this measure. All wish to continue on this path but they point to improvements to be made, in particular on routes and frequencies.
For Jérôme Baloge, having successfully made all the buses free is today a source of pride and an important campaign element. Free admission has increased attendance by more than 20%. A figure that the agglomeration hopes to see increase. The Tanlib network aims for 30% more traffic by 2024.
We have not reduced the number of drivers, the number of equipment. Free, we were able to do it because our buses were empty. Today, everyone can realize that the buses are full which was not the case before.
– Jérôme Baloge, “Niort, all together”
Four lists are in the running for the municipal elections. Opponents of the mayor, however in agreement with the gratuitousness, affirm that it caused failures on the network and a lack of performance. This is the opinion of the environmental candidate supported by the PS, François Gibert.
It is 18% of new entrants but 13% of people who abandoned the bus to take their car. That means that we did not bring the adequate offer.
– François Gibert, “Niort New Energy”
The candidate of the National Rally, Jean-Romée Charbonneau, also wants improvements.
There are many things to improve services, speed, changes. These are things for which we will have to make observations and improve every year.
– Jean-Romée Charbonneau, “Rally for Niort”
What bike plan for the city?
Another issue of these municipal transport, the development of cycling in the city. Three out of four candidates are clearly in favor. Only the candidate of the National Rally, Jean-Romée Charbonneau, sees “a bohemian and bourgeois side“and wishes that the place of the car in town is preserved.
In contrast, Yann Jézéquel from the list, “Solidaires par nature”, supported in particular by France Insoumise and the Communist Party, meanwhile wishes to set up a global soft mobility plan for the city.
We want to develop self-service bikes and above all make them free so that there is consistency with free public transport. Free bikes are needed.
– Yann Jézéquel, “Solidarity by nature” list
In the event of re-election, Jérôme Baloge undertakes to develop the cycling network to make the city accessible by bicycle. “This is the stake for the next six years “, he says.
Improving the bus network, developing cycle paths and making free self-service bicycles, the candidates’ programs in terms of transport are manifold, but another challenge is emerging, that of succeeding in changing the habits of the Niortais. At present, nine out of ten journeys to Niort are still made by car.
Municipal 2020 in Niort: transport at the heart of the debate
In Niort, the issue of transport and soft mobility is one of the major themes of the campaign for municipal elections in March 2020.
Report by Dominique Laveau, Cécile Bonté-Baratciart and Josiane Etienne –
Municipal candidates
Four lists in presence for the municipal elections in Niort:
- Jérôme Baloge : outgoing mayor (elected in the first round in March 2014 with 54.32% of the vote vis-à-vis the outgoing socialist deputy mayor Geneviève Gaillard 20.35%). Member of the Radical Movement. Jérôme Baloge leads the “Niort, all together” list supported by La République En Marche and Les Républicains.
- Jérémy Robineau leads the “Solidaires by nature” list supported by France Insoumise, the Communist Party, Together! and the Left Party.
- François Gibert leads the “Niort Energie nouvelle” list. A list supported by the Socialist Party, Europe Ecologie-Les Verts and Place Publique.
- Jean-Romée Charbonneau , city councilor, community councilor, leads the “Rally for Niort” list. This is the fifth time that he has run for municipal elections in Niort.
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