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Synopsis

The Dunkerque Urban Community is composed of 18 local authorities and has a population of approximately 212,000. It is located on the northern coast of France near Calais. The city is a major seaport and fishing base. It is also a manufacturing and industrial centre for ships, steel, refined petroleum, metal goods, textiles, and processed food. The urban transport plan was voted in June 2003. It is linked to the city's strategic sustainable development policy, and includes a charter on the sharing of road space between the modes of transport, as well as a bicycle development plan. The public transport network is served by 119 vehicles, including 34 natural gas powered buses. It offers a wide range of transport services, including an on-demand "handibus" system for disabled people, and a "taxibus" service at night in all the Communes. 84 road intersections give priority to buses, and a real time passenger information system is available at the main bus stops.

The Dunkerque Public Transport Authority involves several public organisations, including the National Employment Agency (ANPE) and the "Association des Flandres pour l'Education, la formation des Jeunes et l'Insertion sociale et professionnelle" (AFEJI association, Not for profit association for education, training of the youngsters, and social and professional integration in the Flanders area). The idea when involving this type of actors is to develop synergies between transport services, mobility needs and socio-economic development. One of the missions of the AFEJI association is to provide cheap and convenient access to disabled people and also to the underprivileged (e.g. unemployed, low-income, elderly people). To improve the population's access to transport services, mobility services adapted to the needs of the excluded fringes of the population (no bus service, low income, etc.), and run by some of them have been developed.

The organisation of a new mobility culture therefore contributes to creating jobs around self-set and self-run mobility systems, involving lower-income, unemployed, disabled people, etc., and taking their needs into consideration. To this end, some second-hand cars, scooters and bicycles have been acquired with public subventions from local, regional and national levels, and the vehicles are being maintained to safety and efficient standards. The work achieved: bulk purchasing of vehicles to lower unit prices, renting out of vehicles at low prices, basic servicing, mechanical repairs, broken windows, body repair (approved by the MAIF insurance company), small ironwork, repair and maintenance of 2-wheeled vehicles, mobility advice and assistance, breakdown service on the road.

Bike rental including locker and insurance:

• one week: 3 €
• 4 weeks: 12 €
• deposit required: 77 € (given back at the end of the rental contract)

Scooter rental, including a helmet, a theft protection device, and insurance:

• one week: 10 €
• 4 weeks: 40 €
• deposit: 77 €

Second-hand car rental, including insurance:

• one week: 35 €
• 4 weeks: 140 €
• deposit: 150 €

Target groups: disabled - low income citizens - all citizens
Fields: integrated approach / urban transport plans

This case study is one of 175 projects from the Smile Project Local Experiences Database listed on this website.