Nantes has been at the forefront of sustainable transportation for more than two decades – Time magazine described it as “the most livable city in Europe” in 2004, and the city has been selected as a European Green Capital for 2013.

Nantes has ambitious transportation goals, namely, to reduce car trips to only 50% of all trips citywide. The city’s latest mobility plan (2010-2015-2030) includes new goals and objectives including: slower car speed, improved quality of public spaces to provide pedestrians and cyclists with optimal conditions, denser city centers to favor short-distance trips, improved paratransit and cycling networks to connect these living centers.

Nantes has also integrated its tram system with buses with a High Level of Service (Busway). The Busway has reached a frequency of just three minutes at peak times and is carrying over 27,000 passengers per day. Now the city has embarked on the “Chronobus project”: a way of incentivizing bus lines for continuous service improvements, with quality and performance indicators such as similar guaranteed travel times for peak and off peak hours and improved frequencies making it easier to choose to take the bus without knowing the timetable.

80% of the city’s bus fleet now runs on compressed natural gas; the city has also expanded their use of electric trams; and are experimenting with joint procurement for the purchase of hybrid buses. All of these changes have reduced CO2 and other pollutant emissions.

Bicycling is encouraged with a bike-sharing scheme that uses high-tech kiosks; secure bike parking spaces; and a rent-a-bike service. The city is also experimenting with electric bikes and will combine foldable bicycles with public transport.