Accessibility and Inclusion

French urban transport has increasingly prioritized accessibility, though progress came slowly. The 2005 disability law mandated fully accessible public transport by 2015. While this deadline proved optimistic, it drove significant improvements. Paris Métro's deep stations remain challenging, but all buses are now wheelchair accessible. New tram and metro lines feature level boarding and audio-visual announcements.

Innovation in accessibility often comes from smaller cities. Nancy's guided bus system uses optical guidance allowing precise platform alignment, eliminating gaps that challenge wheelchair users. Besançon pioneered real-time audio information for blind passengers. These local innovations spread nationally through GART (Groupement des Autorités Responsables de Transport) knowledge sharing.

Social inclusion extends beyond physical accessibility. Toulouse offers free transport to job seekers. Dunkerque made its entire bus network free in 2018, viewing mobility as a right rather than a commodity. These experiments challenge conventional transport economics, prioritizing social benefits over farebox recovery.