Expanding the bike-bus scheme
Summary
In response to growing demand, the bike-carrying bus service operating in La Rochelle was extended with the addition of new vehicles.
Implementing sustainable mobility
A bike-bus is an articulated bus equipped with two separate compartments, one for passengers and one for bicycles, enabling cyclists to travel out of the city centre in order to reach areas of the city or countryside that are safer for cycling.
Since 1999, two bike-buses had been running in the summer between the city centre and the Ile de Re. This intermodal service was greatly appreciated by inhabitants and tourists, prompting plans for expansion.
Progress
Preliminary contacts were made with bus manufacturers to discuss the various technical options for bike-bus design.
After a thorough analysis of three different itineraries, it was concluded that the existing summer bike-bus service between La Rochelle and the Ile de Re should be bolstered (e.g. by increasing bus frequency) rather than creating a new route. In particular, the proposed route between La Rochelle and Chatelaillon was scrapped due to major technical difficulties (excessive running times, the need to redesign bus stops etc.).
One new bike-bus was put into operation in July 2007, and another in July 2008, and new branding was designed for the new vehicles.
Outcomes
The number of bike-bus service users rose from 13,618 in 2007 to 18,016 in 2008, representing a 32 percent increase in trips with or without a bike.
The level of acceptance among the public was very good: 97 percent of the 300 people surveyed considered it a worthwhile initiative.
Of those who actually took their bikes on the bus, 99 percent expressed their satisfaction with the service.
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