Containment had put a stop to automobile traffic in the Basque Country as in the whole country, with however a positive effect for the environment: the sharp reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The period of deconfinement which is now opening complicates the use of public transport because of the difficulty of enforcing social distancing. This is why the Community of the Basque Country Agglomeration (CAPB) has decided to test new cycle paths in the municipalities of Bayonne, Anglet and Biarritz, the aim being to avoid recourse to the private car, as long as the sanitary situation did not return to normal.
There are 3 new cycle paths:
– The first is planned on Boulevard du BAB in the Bayonne-Biarritz direction between the Balichon sector and the Europe roundabout. Normally, this busy axis sees 25 to 35,000 vehicles pass per day. A traffic lane will be neutralized to be transformed into a two-way cycle path. The other 3 lanes will remain dedicated to car traffic. This track will be operational from June 8 and an extension to Kleber is planned for the summer. Total length: 5.5 km.
– The second track will take place on the boulevard of Aritxague between the roundabouts of Beyris and Pontots. These will be two one-way 2.5 km runways, created by reducing the width of the existing traffic lanes. Opening May 18.
– Finally, we can also pedal on the RD 810: a bus / bike corridor will be built over 1 km to the FNAC interchange, which will allow cycling continuity between the St Léon and Cadran roundabouts. Commissioned in June.
The cost of these three developments amounts to 530,000 euros. Their development was done in consultation with the associations Bizi and Txirindola, very involved in encouraging the practice of cycling. These cycle paths are only temporary but tests and counts will be made and depending on the results, some may well become permanent.
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