Mobility only increased in the 20th century, as increasingly efficient means of transport and modern, safe infrastructures were developed. Emblematic of the conquest of individual freedom, the car became the most widely used mode of transport in Western countries in general, and in France in particular.
However, this boom in mobility has not been without consequences for our environment and our economies. High emitters of CO
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, road modes contribute to nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in France. Traffic growth is also causing congestion and saturation in urban centers, particularly at peak times. As a result, environmental impacts are followed by economic difficulties in congested cities.
Finally, at the dawn of the 21st century, social inequalities are appearing, with the ability of the middle and lower classes to get around exacerbated by rising fuel costs.
Alternative mobility policies are born in this context.