In France, nearly 2 million people are in wheelchairs, and it is estimated that 12 million French people are disabled, a population that suffers daily problems in moving around the city. But, beyond these people, 9 out of 10 people experience accessibility difficulties when traveling, according to a consultation carried out by APF France handicap. Improvements are normally compulsory and enshrined in the laws of 1975 and 2005. But cities are slow to implement them. However, adapting to people with disabilities could benefit other audiences, such as the elderly or parents with strollers.
Is the city accessible to all a utopia? To debate Nathalie Appéré, mayor of Rennes since 2014 and president of Rennes Métropole since 2020, geographer Michel Lussault, author in particular of Geo’viral chronicles (Lyon Urban School, 2020), Charlotte de Vilmorin, who with Rémi Janot created the start-up Wheeliz, specializing in the rental of furnished cars between individuals, and the journalist Olivier Razemon. With a report by Claire Duhamel in Nantes, which is one of the top 3 most accessible cities according to the APF, and the point of view of the disabled athlete Philippe Croizon.
Le Monde Cities, in partnership with Toyota, offers four special programs on the mobility of tomorrow. On hydrogen, electric vehicles, MaaS and accessibility of transport for people with disabilities, find here our reports, testimonials and debates.