Fuel crisis pushes French residents toward public transport, study shows

A growing number of people in France are abandoning private cars in favour of public transport amid rising fuel prices triggered by the Middle East crisis.

The increase in passenger traffic is especially noticeable in cities offering free public transport, Caliber.Az reports, citing a recent poll by French media.

In Montpellier, ridership has risen by 8% since March, in Dunkirk by 5%, while Niort has recorded an even more significant surge.

According to Éric Le Roux, director of Transdev Niort Agglomération, passenger numbers in Niort increased by around 25% in March compared to the average level over the past 15 months.

City authorities have already increased the number of high-capacity buses to cope with the demand.

Dunkirk Mayor Patrice Vergriete noted that such changes often become lasting: rising fuel prices act as a “trigger” after which people continue using public transport permanently.

Experts emphasise that free fares are not the only factor.

Michel Quidort, vice president of the National Federation of Transport Users’ Associations, said that rising fuel prices play the key role.

In his view, if the crisis is prolonged, transport infrastructure will need to be expanded, including more buses, trains, and metro lines.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov