The French learners of Talking Bikes have elaborated a questionnaire to evaluate the possibilities of developing the use of bicycles in le Puy-en-Velay. This questionnaire has been submitted to 118 inhabitants, who are called the « Ponots », the 2nd of March 2010 in various points of the town, with the help of the European partners being in France.

We have been surprised to discover than 62% of citizens have a bicycle, mainly mountain bikes or city bikes. The first reason for not having one is that it is too dangerous to cycle in town. 87% believe that the use of bikes could develop, for example by creating more cycling roads. This will reduce the Carbon dioxide (38%) and will make the city more friendly (32%). The « Ponots » are so more preoccupied by the common good than by their own health: nobody has expressed that it will be good for the health.

And when respondents says that it would not be possible to develop the use of bikes, all, of them thinks that it is too risky to run a bicycle with the car traffic.

80% have a positive opinion of the possibility to organize a renting system, 73 % believe that such an initiative could apply to their town and 68 % says they would be customers. They would be ready to pay up to 1,40 euros per hour (for info,in Paris a one-day subscription to the Vélib‘ service costs 1 euro, and a 7-day, 5 euros).

In le Puy, like in any town, despite the sloping streets, developing the use of bicycles only depends on political wills. The citizens are ready to use bicycles, they just need to be protected from cars.