Commuting: Promoting Carpooling and Sustainable Transportation

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The route between our home and our workplace is one we know by heart. And for good reason: like most other French people, we take it almost every day. And as you might expect, with so many people commuting five days a week, this has a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions:

• According to data from the ENTD study ^[1] Based on 2008 data (which we eagerly await an update on from INSEE), Carbone 4 has calculated that commutes account for nearly 20 MtCO2eq in annual emissions, or approximately 15% of transportation-related emissions(excluding international air and maritime transport) and 4% of France's total GHG emissions ;
• Also according to data from the ENTD study ^[1], in France, 74% of commutes are made by car, 13% by public transportation, 10% on foot or by bicycle, and 3% on two-wheeled vehicles. And this is despite the fact that cars are the mode of transportation with the highest emissions.

You could use the climate issue as an excuse to tell your employer you won't be coming to work anymore, but we doubt they'd go for it… Commutes home-to-work are, in fact, among those routes which are non-compressible (except for some who can work remotely).
But, Even if we have to travel, we can reduce our impact. This is precisely the challenge that citizens, regions, and certain companies—such as RATP, SNCF, and BlaBlaCar (with its BlaBlaLines app)—are taking on today..

Of course, avoid using cars in favor of public transportation or active transportation (walking, biking, and even riding a scooter) remains the most effective measure. But public transportation must not be overcrowded, as is the case with service to La Défense, for example. For relieve congestion on public transportation In this area, the Île-de-France Region now offers an app to encourage employees to work remotely or to commute outside of rush hour by walking, biking, or carpooling ^[2]. Each trip earns points, which can be redeemed for discounts or gifts (such as concert tickets). This is undoubtedly a good initiative that could inspire other regions—and even companies—to raise their employees’ awareness of the benefits of active transportation.

And for anyone who doesn't have access to public transportation or bike paths—or who doesn't want to give up their car—the best option is still to promote carpooling. In fact, for commutes, a car often carries only one person. Tackling single-occupant car use is clearly the primary source of savings, from every perspective. According to Île-de-France Mobilités, if every vehicle carried two people, one-third of the usual traffic on the ring road would be eliminated ^[3]. To encourage this, holders of the annual Navigo Pass are offered two free carpool trips per day for their commute to and from work. Drivers, in turn, are reimbursed up to 3 euros per trip per passenger.

Sustainable transportation and carpooling are also highlighted in the LOM (Mobility Framework Act), which is currently under review in Parliament. As a result, employers will soon be able toprovide financial assistance to their employees tax-free and excluding social security contributions, amounting to about 400 euros per year, for commuting to work by bike or carpooling (if the bill is passed as is).

Article written by Célia Foulon – Consultant

Sources:
^[1]ENTD
^[2]CANAL+
^[3]Le Figaro