What are the benefits of soft mobility for our society and our environment in 2024?

It is undeniable that France faces increasingly major challenges in terms of climate change, and that transport contributes greatly to greenhouse gas emissions. Faced with these challenges, flexible mobility emerges as a promising solution to reduce our carbon footprint while improving our quality of life. But what is soft mobility and what are its advantages in 2024?

What is soft mobility?

Haven't heard of soft mobility yet? Soft mobility encompasses all environmentally friendly modes of transportation that emit low levels of carbon dioxide and are good for health. Its goal is to replace polluting vehicles while remaining accessible to all road users.

It's worth knowing: yes, electric or hybrid vehicles, car sharing and bicycles are examples of sustainable mobility. This soft mobility is part of a broader approach to the environment and sustainable development.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

In France, personal vehicles account for 53% of the transport sector's carbon footprint. An internal combustion vehicle emits more than an electric vehicle over its entire lifecycle. In contrast, the use of active modes of transportation generates no greenhouse gas emissions and therefore does not pollute.

In this sense, soft mobility makes it possible to optimize traffic flow and avoid the formation of traffic jams, thereby reducing air pollution. In 2021, a study published in a scientific journal demonstrated thatpromoting the use of bicyclesand walking instead of driving, even once a week, could reduce CO2 emissions related to personal transportation by a quarter.

Improvement of air quality

Unlike motorized vehicles, which emit nitrogen oxides and fine particles, active mobility emits no harmful substances. By preserving air quality, soft mobility contributes to protecting our health.

Did you know? In addition to maintaining good physical condition, active mobility can increase life expectancy by two years.

The development of soft mobility has two main objectives: to improve people's quality of life and to revitalize urban centers. The use of active modes of transportation optimizes travel duration. According to the French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management (ADEME), the bicycle is faster than the car for distances between 1 and 5 km, and cyclists travel at an average speed of 15 km/h in the city, compared to 14 km/h for car drivers. Limiting motorized transport also promotes pedestrianization of urban centers, an increase in the number of bike lanes, reduction of noise pollution, and the repurposing of parking spaces for other uses.

Need to mobilize businesses and public authorities

To encourage the adoption of soft mobility and achieve carbon neutrality, the French government has introduced several financial incentives. Among them, the Sustainable Mobility Incentive, which supports the acquisition of more environmentally friendly means of transportation. The Mobility Orientation Act (Loi d'Orientation des Mobilités - LOM) aims to facilitate the deployment of new low-CO2 transportation solutions, while reducing the cost of public transportation rental or purchase.