Sharing the street in urban areas: the example of the 'code de la rue' (street use code) in France

摘要

Street design, when associated with appropriate speed and travel regulations, plays a decisive role in promoting a change in travel behaviour and in making cities more user-friendly . The allocation of space, speed limits for vehicles and user priority rules are also elements that influence the comfort and safety of pedestrian and cyclist circulation and, in turn, the choice of travel mode. Several road-sharing concepts developed in other countries are of great interest; the "code de la rue" (street use code) in France provides an excellent example. This approach, which was launched in 2006, has led to substantial advances, both in terms of regulations and urban street planning. Cities now have at their disposal a range of concepts that are adapted to different categories of urban roads, characterized by speed management associated with a specific way of sharing the public space. In a context where we seek to promote sustainable mobility and to review how the road is shared, this makes for a very interesting example. These objectives are at the heart of debates in Quebec. The proliferation of initiatives, the wide variety of stakeholders involved and the mechanisms of consultation set in place are very important success factors in overcoming major challenges that transportation and road safety present in urban areas.