The European Metropolis of Lille (MEL) voted, Friday, December 16 in the evening, for the establishment of a “positive toll”, namely a bonus paid to motorists who give up driving alone during rush hour on the most congested axes. “We target autosoloists”summarized the president of the MEL, Damien Castelain.
Those who change means of transport, those who start carpooling, and those who shift their trips to less intense hours will be eligible for the bonus of two euros per trip. Presented as a “anti-traffic jam” to unclog the A1 and A23 in particular in the morning and evening, this “ecobonus” inspired by a measure observed by elected officials from Lille in 2015 in Rotterdam, is a “first in France”depending on the community.
The measure, which is based on an automated license plate reading system, has long come up against the protection of personal data, preventing the storage of these numbers without the consent of motorists.
A cost of nine million euros
Motorists are therefore called upon to volunteer from the spring of 2023, and their daily journeys will be followed by reading the plates. Then, 5,000 of them will be enrolled in the summer of 2023, for a first nine-month program.
Each avoided car trip declared on an application will entitle you to a bonus of two euros per trip within the limit of 80 euros per month.
The MEL hopes, for example, a reduction in traffic of 750 vehicles out of the 12,000 present on the A1 in the morning at rush hour, it specified in a press release.
The device, lasting three years, should cost nine million euros. Environmental advisers voted against, believing that such an investment “to dissuade, in the best case, 5,000 motorists from taking their car” was “very expensive paid”. Lille elected official Mélissa Camara called for the development of “effective alternatives” to the car.