“A real bicycle highway”: the new Lattes cycle path, an additional link in the Vélolignes de Montpellier Métropole

Lattes veut amener les automobilistes à se tourner davantage vers le vélo Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Pedal slats. This Friday, the Metropolis inaugurated the new cycling facilities created as part of the Véloligne network, which aims to connect the municipalities of the metropolis together.

"You are going to see me for the first time on a bike", Cyril Meunier jokes, before getting on the electric two-wheeler. The mayor of Lattes admits, he is not a great cyclist. "I'll get started", promises the councilor. Because recently, the city has acquired several kilometers of secure cycle paths, presented this Friday to the public.

Fewer cars, more bikes

From the Pont du Lez to the crossroads of Europe, Avenue de l’Europe has been completely redeveloped. The 2X2 lane has been reduced to 2X1 lane to make way for a two-way cycle path. This development connects to the cycle path created on RM 189 – Avenue de Boirargues. A few kilometers away, the RM 132 – Route de Pérols has also chosen to reduce the space granted to motorists in order to ensure continuity of the Lattes-Pérols cycle path. On the Avenue de Boirargues side, a space dedicated to cyclists has also been created.

The work lasted almost a year. Period during which certain motorists, exasperated by the nuisance of construction sites, virulently expressed their discontent. "The workers were badly mistreated. A petition calling for my death was even published online", denounces Cyril Meunier. "We are not anti-car at all, tempers Michaël Delafosse, mayor of Montpellier. We need a fair distribution of space, whether for trams, for cars or for bicycles" .

Véloligne, soon 235 km of cycle paths

The developments of Avenue de Boirargues and Route de Pérols are both part of the Véloligne cycle path network. Consisting of some 235 km, this network aims to connect the municipalities of the metropolis together. 65% of the network should be operational before the end of the mandate in 2026.

“This project aims to be a real bicycle highway", explains Julie Frêche, vice-president of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. Line B, the section of which Lattes is part, should connect the Montpellier Sud de France TGV station in a loop around the metropolis. Line A will connect Juvignac and Castelnau le Lez, while Line C will provide the Carnon axis – Juvignac while the D will connect Mauguio to Castries.

"The metropolis has seen its number of cyclists considerably increase from 2022 to 2023", points out Julie Frêche. The Montpellier Vélolignes should amplify this trend. 150 M€ must be devoted to active mobility from 2021 to 2026.

I subscribe to read the rest