Two deputy mayors of Paris are opposed to the increase in public transport fares planned for the 2024 Olympics. Valérie Pécresse had announced increases valid between July and September.
“ An additional blow for Parisians and Ile-de-France residents »: this is how two deputies from the Paris town hall describe, in a letter, the prices which must be applied in public transport during the Olympic Games in Paris. This initiative from Paris City Hall was taken on December 5, 2023, a little over a week after the controversial announcements by Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France regional council.
Ile-de-France residents “taken in their wallets” during the Olympics
Le Monde and AFP specify, in an article on Wednesday, December 6, that the letter was written by Emmanuel Grégoire and Pierre Rabadan, deputies to the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo (in charge of town planning and sport respectively). In their letter addressed to Valérie Pécresse, which the press agency consulted, they ask the president of the region to backpedal on the transport pricing specially planned for the Olympic Games in Paris during the summer of 2023. The deputies write that the inhabitants of Île-de-France “ will be taken from the wallet in this period of inflation where every euro counts “.
Price changes in Parisian public transport linked to the Olympics must apply from July 20 to September 8, 2024. A metro ticket will then cost €4 (compared to €2.10 currently), an RER or train ticket for traveling outside Paris will cost €6. Subscribers to the monthly or annual Navigo pass should not be affected (except for the increase in the Navigo pass announced for early 2024, which is not linked to the Olympics).
A special rate will also be available: a “Paris 2024 Pass”, at €16 per day or €70 per week, allowing travel throughout the region. Occasional users of public transport in Paris are invited to opt for an Easy card (to be recharged before July 20) or for the Liberté+ subscription.
Prices that could discourage volunteers
“ Not everyone who will make these Games a success has a Navigo pass and will have no choice but to pay the full price », Reply the two deputies in their letter. They believe that these prices will create difficulties “ precarious workers who will come to work » as well as volunteers, whose recruitment risks being penalized by these rising prices. Emmanuel Grégoire and Pierre Rabadan are therefore calling for a meeting, to consider the following avenues: “ maintaining the usual pricing ” And “ free public transport for Parisian volunteers “.
Originally, the city of Paris had promised free admission during the 2024 Olympic Games, for all people accredited for the event and ticket holders. This promise included in the application file has not been kept, which is causing great discontent. Especially since the service is not ready to handle the influx of visitors: 8 months before the Olympics, the punctuality of the metros and RERs is disastrous.
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