Le tramway fait partie du quotidien des Montpelliérains. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA
The 500,000 inhabitants of the Métropole have been able to travel by bus and tram for free since December 21, 2023. One year later, what conclusions can be drawn from this flagship campaign measure by Michaël Delafosse ? We take stock.
A year ago today, free public transport came into effect in Montpellier. The event, celebrated by more than 15,000 people on the Place de la Comédie, took on the appearance of a major public festival. The jubilant crowd applauded the smiling mayor, happy to fulfill one of his campaign promises. 365 days later, “the world has not collapsed”, Michaël Delafosse jokes, as many bad sleepers, including opposition elected officials, assured him.
Ridership up 30%
The measure, however, has been an undeniable success among the inhabitants of the Métropole. There are 400,000 who have requested their free pass out of the 500,000 in the territory. Attendance has jumped by more than 33%, or 150,000 travelers per day compared to 2019 (before Covid). Suffice to say that the measure is popular with users whose main reason for satisfaction is the improvement of their purchasing power. Free travel as desired by the majority is indeed fulfilling its “social” function. Students, numbering 80,000 in Montpellier, are the first to be delighted. At Paul-Valéry University, 65% of them viewed free transport positively before it was introduced. A new survey will be conducted among the 25,000 students next spring. The results will be published in June. “Young people tell me they are very proud to live in the ecological city. Lots of people thank me!”, confides Michaël Delafosse.
Pollution down
It is difficult to quantify the modal shift precisely since this would require an expensive household survey that the president of the metropolis estimates at €1 million. “We conduct this type of study every ten years. The drop in car traffic was estimated at 10% at the time of the second stage of free transport for under-18s and over-65s.” Of course, that was in 2021. But with the number of inhabitants in the area continuing to grow, each unused car means less pollution for metropolitan residents to breathe.
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“Everything is designed for the city centre, leaving residents on the outskirts without mobility solutions. In many municipalities in the metropolis, free transport is a mirage”, denounces opponent Alenka Doulain (Mupes) who launched the hashtag “free is good but it's rotten”in 2023. If free transport is already a year old, intermodality in the 31 municipalities of the metropolis still has progress to make. Apart from line 1 of bustram, between the place de l'Europe and Sablassou, the others are deferred. Already too much work in progress and budgetary constraints to come.
As for non-metropolitans and tourists, they have been paying more since September 1: +27% for the 1h30 ticket and +50% for the book of 10 tickets. Revenue – between €7 and €8 million in 2024 – has exceeded the targets. That is not the goal, recalls Michaël Delafosse. The elected official is the first to want to extend free travel to municipalities close to the metropolis in return for a contribution to the local public company (SPL) Tam. Discussions are underway with the town of Montarnaud. An experiment was approved by the municipal council. The amount of the contribution remains to be defined. The mayor would also like to include the journey with Hérault Transport to offer free travel to its residents. Discussions are underway with a view to testing very soon.
Improvement of the offer in 2025
A potential increase in ridership that bus and especially tram drivers want to see accompanied by a strengthening of the offer. “2024 was the year of free transport, 2025 will be the year of increased transport provision, indicates Michaël Delafosse. The 77 new trains, ordered in 2022, are arriving soon for line 5 and the extension of line 1. There had been no order since 2012!” And to recall that the very busy bus line 15 has been reinforced. Not to mention that line 5 will improve the frequency between Albert 1er and Saint-Eloi. “I thank all the people of Montpellier for their patience, the offer will increase.” And to respond to criticism from the FO and CGT unions on the deterioration of the service: “In some regions like in Ile-de-France, prices are increasing and the service is deteriorating. I don't take care of the powerful, I take care of the people.”
Incivility down
Another reason for satisfaction: the workforce of the Metropolitan Transport Police will finally be at full strength in 2025. That is 44 officers in total, plus the controllers. “We're almost there! It's the largest metropolitan police force in France ahead of Orléans, Nantes, etc., rejoices the mayor-president. And it's paying off with a 9.4% drop in incivility compared to 2019.” “Free transport changes the city, changes life. It's a great idea for the future.” No doubt for Michaël Delafosse, it will be THE big topic of the municipal elections all over France. “Montpellier will be an example.”
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