Faced with criticism from Vélocité, Julie Frêche recalls the efforts made for cycling and defends intermodality in Montpellier

Julie Frêche première défenseure du vélo. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Julie Frêche is vice-president of Montpellier Métropole in charge of mobility. She responds to the criticisms made by Vélocité in its online observatory. 

What do you think of the Observatory developed by Vélocité ?

It is a very interesting tool, but only cycle lines are included. However, we also need local and connection networks to serve all the inhabitants of the Métropole, schools…

Where are you with cycle paths ?

We have completed an additional 142 km since June 2020. Today, we are at 422 km in the Metropolis, or 66% of the cycle routes. There are also 71 km of greenways, several of which raise questions, which explains why the number of cycle lines completed in 2026 has been revised downwards.

What about Place Saint-Denis?

While 11,000 vehicles used to pass through there every day, there are no longer any since the square will be pedestrianized. Bicycles will have to slow down to give priority to pedestrians. It will also be the largest tram station on line 5, which will transport 80,000 passengers per day. I understand that Vélocité has a vision focused on cycling, but we need to think about all modes of transport. The number of bicycles has multiplied in the city… No Metropolis has removed a transit tunnel in the city center (the Comédie tunnel) to open it to bicycles. And none has equipped 11% of its population with electric bicycles, thanks to aid without resource conditions for three years.

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