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The Macif* Barometer 2009, published on 11th September 2009, reveals the French stance on sustainable mobility. They are ready to change, on the condition that access to sustainable mobility is facilitated for them.
For the third year running, Macif, in partnership with the Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea, has published its
barometer of sustainable mobility. The first thing to note is that, despite the recession, from now on, ecology firmly belongs among the preoccupations of the French, as it arrives in 4th place on the list, with work being in first place.
51% of respondents say that this subject is a priority and 52% say that they are ready to act by using alternative transport to get around and to pollute less. 18-24 year-olds feel even more concerned, with a figure of 64% in this age category.
What does
alternative transport mean for the French? For 91% of respondents,
car pools represent the closest to this term, even if only 26% have tried it at least once.
Bicycle-sharing, a means of transport whose popularity has been greatly helped by the Vélib’*, is next. Here again, there is a discrepancy between what people say and what they practice, as only 11% of respondents have already tried the self-service bicycle.
Why is there such a discrepancy? It would appear that a
sentiment of insecurity is preventing respondents from putting their willingness to travel differently into practice. Only 37% of them feel safe on a bicycle in traffic and only half trust the driver while using a car pool.
It should also be stressed that old habits die hard, as it’s the regular car drivers who are the least inclined to turn towards a method of alternative transport. 66% of them will not change their habits : this figure is 29 percentage points higher than that of last year.
Respondents are counting on the
State to improve access to sustainable mobility. In effect, 72% think that the State has a role to play in the matter, declaring it the principal protagonist, ahead of transport operators, car manufacturers (55%), and insurers (38%).
Respondents thus think that there are numerous measures which could encourage them more to change their travel habits and turn towards sustainability. 73% agreed that a
modification of the Highway Code is essential, particularly in order to allow better sharing of traffic lanes between car pools, cars and bicycles. Equally desirable by a majority of respondents is an educational project aimed at children, in the form of fuel-efficient driving lessons. 59% of adults also call for more transparency in the set-up of a
time-price-pollution comparative tool for different means of transport.
Finally, financial incentive remains a safe bet as 48% of French respondents admit that a rapid increase in the price of fuel would encourage them to turn towards alternative means of transport.
* Macif is a French mutual insurance company
* Vélib’ is a public bicycle-rental scheme in Paris
