An experimental cycle lane on Avenue de la République
A secure cycle lane has been tested since mid-June on Avenue de la République, on the initiative of the Ville de Toulon and the Métropole TPM.
The Ville de Toulon and the Métropole TPM launched mid-June the trial of a secure cycle lane on Avenue de la République. This development aims to strengthen the role of soft mobility on a key axis of the city centre.
A strategic axis for traffic
Avenue de la République is an essential link for East-West transit in Toulon. It serves major points of interest such as the Arsenal, the commercial port, and the Mayol, Lafayette, and Facultés car parks.
Its flow is also densified by maritime activity, which is constantly growing, as well as by the passage of public transport and internal journeys.
It is within this complex context that the project is set, with the ambition of improving the sharing of public space and offering secure continuity to existing cycling routes, in line with the developments already carried out in 2023.
A reversible development
The chosen system is light, quick to set up and fully reversible. In concrete terms, the cycle lane is positioned on the north side of the avenue.
The roadway is therefore reorganised to reduce to three traffic lanes, involving the removal of a lane in the West-East direction. Adjustments are also made at the "Préfecture maritime", "Station maritime", "Cours Lafayette" and "Mayol" bus stops.
This test phase takes place over several months in order to measure its impact under different traffic conditions: end of the school year, peak summer activity linked to ferries, then the start of the school year in September and cruising speed.
A complete assessment will be drawn up in the autumn to evaluate the cohabitation between modes of transport, the effects on fluidity and the evolution of uses. The results will make it possible to adjust the system, if necessary, before considering making it permanent.
A concerted and supervised project
The Municipality assures that the project has been the subject of discussions with local stakeholders, notably shopkeepers, associations and the Comités d’Intérêt Local (CIL).
To guarantee the success of the experiment, accompanying measures are planned. Traffic will be supervised, deliveries will be regulated with a ban on stopping in the middle of the lane during peak hours, and the municipal police will be mobilised to ensure compliance with the new rules.
This initiative is part of a broader policy of the Ville and TPM in favour of environmentally friendly modes of transport.
Users can obtain the TPM bike map, which details cycling facilities and parking zones. This document is available at the Maison de la Mobilité TPM and online.
Photo TPM.