Editing Transport in France (section)

== Roads ==
[[File:Péripherique Porte de le Muette.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The ring road in Paris.]]
[[File:Reseau autoroutier francais.svg|thumb|right|200px|[[Autoroutes of France|French autoroute]] network]]

There are ~{{convert|950000|km|abbr=on}} of roads in France.<ref name="transtatsfr">{{cite web|url=http://www.iraptranstats.net/fr |title=Transport in France |access-date=2009-02-17 |work=International Transport Statistics Database |publisher=[[International Road Assessment Programme|iRAP]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220080207/http://www.iraptranstats.net/fr |archive-date=20 December 2008 }}</ref> The French motorway network or [[Autoroutes of France|autoroute system]] consists largely of toll roads, except around large cities, in Brittany, in parts of Normandy, in the Ardennes and in Alsace. It is a network totalling {{convert|12,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of motorways operated by private companies such as [[Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France|Sanef]] (Société des autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France). It has the 8th largest [[highway]] network in the world, trailing only the [[Interstate Highway System|United States]], [[Expressways of China|China]], [[Roads in India|India]], [[Transport in Russia#Roads and highways|Russia]], [[Japan]], [[Transport in Canada#Roads|Canada]], [[List of autopistas and autovías in Spain|Spain]] and [[German autobahns|Germany]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004630/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2085.html Roadways by country (incl. expressways and highways).] CIA - The World Factbook. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].</ref>

France currently counts 30,500&nbsp;km of major trunk roads or [[Route nationale|routes nationales]] and state-owned motorways. By way of comparison, the ''routes départementales'' cover a total distance of 365,000&nbsp;km. The main trunk road network reflects the centralising tradition of France: the majority of them leave the gates of [[Paris]]. Indeed, trunk roads begin on the parvis of [[Notre Dame de Paris|Notre-Dame of Paris]] at [[Kilometre Zero#France|Kilometre Zero]]. To ensure an effective road network, new roads not serving Paris were created.

In 2022, France safety rate is near but not better than the OECD median, with rates of 49.8 per million population (or 4.98 / 100 000) and 5.2 per billion vehicle kilometers traveled (0.52 / 100 million VKT).<ref>https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/international_comparisons_2022.pdf</ref>

France is believed to be the most car-dependent country in Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Motte-Baumvol|first1=Benjamin|last2=Bonin|first2=Olivier|last3=David Nassi|first3=Carlos|last4=Belton-Chevallier|first4=Leslie|date=2016-07-21|title=Barriers and (im)mobility in Rio de Janeiro|journal=Urban Studies|volume=53|issue=14|pages=2956–2972|doi=10.1177/0042098015603290|s2cid=155241715|issn=0042-0980|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01170113/file/2016_Motte_Urban%20Studies.pdf}}</ref> In 2005, 937 billion vehicle kilometres were travelled in France (85% by car).<ref name="transtatsfr"/> While the traveled distance did not change, from 2012 to 2022, it is counted as 730 billion vehicle kilometers. Car makes 80% of the 1000 billion vehicle kilometers traveled each year.<ref>https://www.observationsociete.fr/modes-de-vie/consommation/deplacementsauto-2/</ref> Traveled distance is reduced in 2020, but is counted in 2019 as 615 billion vehicle kilometer traveled including 448 car with a French registration plate according to the Union routière de France.<ref>Union routière de France, octobre 2021, Faits et chiffres, 2021, statistique des mobilités, ISSN 1625-5798</ref>

In order to overcome this dependence, in France and many more countries the long-distance coaches' market has been liberalised. Since 2015, with the law Macron, the market has exploded: the increasing demand lead to a higher supply of bus services and coach companies.

Black Saturday refers, in [[France]], to the day of the year when road traffic is most dense due to the many departures on holiday. (Traffic problems are exacerbated by France's extreme [[centralisation]], with Paris being the hub of the entire [[Autoroutes of France|national highway network]].) This Saturday is usually at the end of July, though in 2007 both the last Saturday of July and the first Saturday of August are designated as Black Saturdays. The [[A6 autoroute (France)|Autoroute du Soleil]], the [[highway]] to the south of [[France]] and [[Spain]], is usually particularly busy. In 2004 there was more than {{convert|700|km|mi}} in accumulated traffic congestion. The black colour is the qualification with which the French government web site ''Bison Futé'' designates a day with ''extrêmement dense'' (extremely busy) traffic.<ref>[http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/fr/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=41 Calendrier Bison Futé] (French)</ref> The French [[newspaper]]s call this day ''samedi noir'' after Bison Futé's designation.<ref>[http://www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/acheter.cgi?offre=ARCHIVES&type_item=ART_ARCH_30J&objet_id=954051 ''Bison futé prévoit un "samedi noir", premiers bouchons'', Le Monde, 28 July 2006] (French)</ref> Usually, the French call these days ''les jours de grands départs'' (days of great departures). In [[Dutch language|Dutch]], this French phenomenon was known as ''zwarte zaterdag'' long before the French adopted the term ''samedi noir'', both meaning (literally) Black Saturday.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.hurktoilet.nl/autoroute.php| title = Het Hurktoilet (Dutch)}}</ref>

The term Black Saturday may also refer to Saturday July 31, 1982, when the worst [[Beaune coach crash|road accident in French history]] happened. Around 1:45 AM, a [[Coach (vehicle)|coach]] collided into passenger cars near [[Beaune]] in dense holiday traffic during rainfall. The collision and subsequent fire killed 53 people, among which 46 were children. After this crash, a regulation was enforced to prohibit the transportation of groups of children during this part of the year.<ref>[https://www.humanite.fr/2002-08-01_Societe_-Route-Il-y-a-vingt-ans-l-accident-de-Beaune Il y a vingt ans, l'accident de Beaune] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804100900/http://www.humanite.fr/2002-08-01_Societe_-Route-Il-y-a-vingt-ans-l-accident-de-Beaune|date=2009-08-04}} (French, meaning: Twenty years ago today, the Beaune accident)</ref>

=== Electric roads ===
[[File:Bordeaux-tram-aps-near-Roustaing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bordeaux tramway]] with Alstom [[ground-level power supply]], a technology that as of 2022 is being considered for [[electric road]]s.]]
{{Main|Electric road}}
France plans to invest 30 to 40 billion euro by 2035 in an [[electric road|electric road system]] spanning 8,800 kilometers that recharges electric cars, buses and trucks while driving. Two projects for assessment of electric road technologies were announced in 2023. Three technologies are being considered: [[ground-level power supply]], [[Inductive charging#Transportation|inductive charging]], and [[overhead lines]]. Ground-level power supply technologies, provided by [[Alstom]], Elonroad, and others, are considered the most likely candidate for electric roads. Inductive charging is not considered a mature technology as it delivers the least power, loses 20%-25% of the supplied power when installed on trucks, and its health effects have yet to be documented. Overhead lines is the most mature technology, but the catenaries and overhead wires pose safety and maintenance issues,<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.lemoniteur.fr/article/mobilite-electrique-2-5-une-fenetre-etroite-pour-brancher-les-autoroutes.2203237 |title=Sur les routes de la mobilité électrique |author=Laurent Miguet |date=April 28, 2022 |website=[[Le Moniteur des travaux publics et du bâtiment|Le Moniteur]]}}</ref> and motorway companies find overhead lines too expensive.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/les-autoroutiers-divises-sur-les-solutions-a-mettre-en-place-pour-faire-rouler-des-camions-electriques.N2208923 |title=Les autoroutiers divisés sur les solutions à mettre en place pour faire rouler des camions électriques |author=Marc Fressoz |date=May 9, 2024 |website=L'USINENOUVELLE.com}}</ref>

A working group of the [[Ministry of the Ecological Transition (France)|French Ministry of Ecology]] recommended adopting a [[Ground-level power supply#Electric road systems|European electric road standard]] formulated with Sweden, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and others.<ref name="FR-1">{{citation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021080727/https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/GT1%20rapport%20final.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |url=https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/GT1%20rapport%20final.pdf |title=Système de route électrique. Groupe de travail n°1 |author=Patrick Pélata |display-authors=etal | date=July 2021}}</ref> A standard for electrical equipment on-board a vehicle powered by a rail electric road system (ERS), [[European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization|CENELEC]] Technical Standard 50717, has been published in late 2022.<ref name="TS50717">{{citation |url=https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2020-03529 |title=PD CLC/TS 50717 Technical Requirements for Current Collectors for ground-level feeding system on road vehicles in operation |website=[[BSI Group|The British Standards Institution]] |year=2022 |accessdate=January 2, 2023 |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102072415/https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2020-03529}}</ref> A standard encompassing full interoperability and a "unified and interoperable solution" for [[ground-level power supply]] electric road systems, detailing complete specifications for "communication and power supply through conductive rails embedded in the road"<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.snv.ch/files/content/documents/News%20und%20Newslettertexte/CEN_CENELEC_BT-Dokument.pdf |title=Final draft: Standardization request to CEN-CENELEC on 'Alternative fuels infrastructure'  (AFI II) |date=February 2, 2022 |publisher=[[European Commission]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709095254if_/https://www.snv.ch/files/content/documents/News%20und%20Newslettertexte/CEN_CENELEC_BT-Dokument.pdf |archive-date=July 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="CollERS2-regulatory">{{citation |url=https://electric-road-systems.eu/e-r-systems-wAssets/docs/publications/CollERS-2-Discussion-paper-2-Regulatory-issues.pdf |title=Regulating Electric Road Systems in Europe - How can a deployment of ERS be facilitated? |publisher=CollERS2 - Swedish German research collaboration on Electric Road Systems |author=Matts Andersson |date=July 4, 2022}}</ref> is specified in [[European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization|CENELEC]] technical standard 50740 in accordance with European Union directive 2023/1804.<ref>{{citation |url=https://genorma.com/en/project/show/cenelec:proj:78579 |title=Technical Specification for ground-based feeding systems for dynamic electric road charging infrastructure on road vehicles in operation CLC/prTS 50740 |date=October 25, 2023 |website=Genorma}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-law-in-force/bibliographic-details/-/elif-publication/6337734c-58e4-11ee-9220-01aa75ed71a1 |title=Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU |date=September 9, 2023}}</ref> The standard was approved in 2025.<ref name="CLCTS-50740">{{citation |url=https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2024-02184#Publication |title=PD CLC/TS 50740 Technical Specification for ground-based feeding systems for dynamic electric road charging infrastructure on road vehicles in operation |website=[[British Standards Institution]] |year=2025}}</ref>

==== Trials ====
Alstom has developed a [[ground-level power supply]] (alimentation par le sol - APS) system for use with buses and other vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railinsider.co.uk/2019/09/26/alstom-transfers-tram-power-supply-technology-to-buses/|title=Alstom transfers tram power supply technology to buses|work=Rail Insider|date=26 September 2019|accessdate=29 November 2020|archivedate=29 November 2020|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129165355/https://www.railinsider.co.uk/2019/09/26/alstom-transfers-tram-power-supply-technology-to-buses/}}</ref> The system has been tested for safety when the road is cleared by [[snowplow]]s, under exposure to snow, ice, salting, and saturated [[brine]],<ref>{{citation |url=https://proceedings-calgary2022.piarc.org/ressources/files/2/IP0063-DUPRAT-E-Full.pdf |title=Compatibility of an in-road Electric Road System with winter service operations |author=Patrick Duprat |publisher=[[PIARC]] |others=Alstom |date=February 11, 2022}}</ref> and for [[Skid (automobile)|skid]] and road adherence safety for vehicles, including motorcycles.<ref name="Cercle-des-Transports-2024-01" /> Alstom will trial its electric road system (ERS) on the public road [[Route nationale 205|RN205]]<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.atmb.com/press_release/atmb-shell-mise-en-service-station-gaz-naturel-liquefie-gnl/ |title=Les aides proposées par ATMB à ses clients légers et lourds pour la décarbonation des transports |date=June 30, 2023 |website=ATMB}}</ref> in the [[Rhône-Alpes]] region between 2024 and 2027.<ref>{{citation |url=https://trm24.fr/lancement-du-projet-de-recherche-eroadmontblanc/ |title=L'APS d'Alstom bientôt testé sur les routes |author=Jean-Philippe Pastre |website=TRM24 |date=June 30, 2023}}</ref> The system is expected to supply 500&nbsp;kW of power for electric heavy trucks, as well as power for road utility vehicles and [[electric car]]s.<ref name="Cercle-des-Transports-2024-01">{{citation |url=https://www.cercledestransports.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-01-16-cercle_transports_ers_eroadmtboanc_duprat.pdf |title=Présentation du projet eRoadMontBlanc |date=January 16, 2024 |website=Cercle des Transports |author=Patrick Duprat}}</ref>

[[Vinci SA|Vinci]] will test two electric road systems (ERS) from 2023 to 2027. Both technologies will initially be tested in laboratory conditions, and upon meeting the test requirements they will be installed along 2 kilometers each on the [[A10 autoroute]] south of Paris. Wireless ERS by [[:he:אלקטריאון וירלס|Electreon]] will be tested for durability under highway traffic, and will attempt to reach 200&nbsp;kW of power delivery per truck using multiple receivers. [[Ground-level power supply#Electric road systems|Rail ERS]] by Elonroad, which supplies 350&nbsp;kW of power per receiver, will be tested for [[Skid (automobile)|skid]] effects on [[motorcycle]]s. Both systems will be interoperable with cars, buses, and trucks.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.usinenouvelle.com/editorial/l-instant-tech-vinci-teste-la-recharge-par-induction-et-par-rail-sur-autoroute.N2158317 |title=Vinci teste la recharge par induction et par rail sur autoroute |author=Léna Corot |date=August 30, 2023 |website=L'USINENOUVELLE.com}}</ref>

=== Bus transport in France ===
[[File:Bus grenoble.JPG|thumb|Bus in [[Grenoble]].|201x201px]]
{{Main|Bus transport in France}}
In most, if not all, French cities, urban bus services are provided at a flat-rate charge for individual journeys.  Many cities have bus services that operate well out into the suburbs or even the country.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://about-france.com/france-bus-travel.htm| title = Bus and coach travel in France. About-France.com}}</ref> Fares are normally cheap, but rural services can be limited, especially on weekends.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angloinfo.com/france/how-to/page/france-transport-public-transport-buses-coaches|title=France by Bus and Coach|website=Angloinfo|publisher=[[Angloinfo]]|access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref>

Trains have long had a monopoly on inter-regional buses, but in 2015 the French government introduced reforms to allow bus operators to travel these routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/frances-loss-making-inter-city-services-at-a-crossroads.html |title=France's loss-making inter-city services at a crossroads}}</ref>