Synopsis

One of the priorities of the City of Tours transport policy is to favour sustainable modes of transport, especially through the creation of bus lanes and the development of pedestrian and cycle routes.

The County scheme for two wheel travel, the "Loire by Bicycle" Plan and, in the near future, the Urban Transport Plan are tools set up to define, organise and monitor the city's initiatives concerning transport.

The promotion of clean vehicles (both private vehicles and buses) is also one of the city's priorities.

The city of Tours, naturally, participates in the "In town without my car!" campaign, in which a large area (3 square miles in 2001, with a population of 35,000 people) is given over to pedestrians, cyclists, buses and vehicles running on gas or electricity.

The event is a great success every year and is the occasion of numerous initiatives: an electric bus service, renting-out of both regular and electric bicycles, secure bicycle parks, taxi-bicycles, electric shuttles, commercial shuttles, relay fleets, etc.

As a result, projects such as relay fleets, the acquisition of cleaner vehicles, more cycle routes (70 km over 3 years), and the "Two Wheel Education Village" (Village Education 2 roues) have been given a permanent basis.

The commitment of the city to the promotion and development of sustainable modes of transport is further demonstrated by its participation in events such as "Bicycling Sunday" (Un dimanche à vélo) in 1999 and 2000, "Public Transport Week" in 2001, and "Road Safety Week", also in 2001.

3,000 "Two Wheel Education" bulletins for secondary school children were distributed as part of ITWMC 2001, as well as leaflets entitled "The Journey to School" and registration forms for various workshops (Road Safety, A Teacher's Guide, etc). The "Two Wheel Education Village" (run by the police during the day as an experiment) has been given a permanent basis in the form of the Road Safety Education Unit (Unité d'Education Routière). Similar events were organised in September 2002.

The police organise regular events at schools throughout the year.

3 workshops are offered:

• the first presents information, a video film, and a quiz game based on knowledge of the Highway Code,
• the second involves a manoeuvrability course: slaloms, slopes, obstacles, seesaws,
• the third simulates a journey through the city centre.
• Three policemen or women train 8 to 12 year olds.

At the end of the workshops there are prizes: helmets, repair kits, bicycle lights, card games, etc.

Target groups: children
Fields: mobility advice & campaigns

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