In the run-up to the 2026 municipal elections, Keolis commissioned Ifop to conduct a major surveyof4,000 French people to understand their expectations of the next term of office, particularly in terms of commuting.
The study confirms that mobility is a determining factor in local voting, and represents a real lever for equality between territories. It highlights clear budgetary trade-offs, strong demand for public transport and growing attention to mobility tensions.
Clear expectations that sometimes fly in the face of conventional wisdom
Carried out among a representative sample of the French population, the survey reveals the uses, perceptions and priorities of the French when it comes to daily transport, from the heart of the metropolis to suburban and rural areas.
Mobility has become a central issue in the municipal debate. When asked about the funding to be allocated to the main municipal policies, the French would devote a third of the municipal budget to mobility (roads, transport and travel), far ahead of school maintenance or the environment.
A consensus that cuts across the political divide
Some key findings:
- 56% of French people would like to reduce the role of cars in tomorrow’s cities, an observation shared by far more than just residents of major metropolises.
- French people’s vision of mobility is pragmatic, guided more by common sense than ideology, whether it concerns the place of the bicycle or the car.
- 64% would like to see public investment concentrated on the least-served areas, even if it means slowing down projects in areas that are already well-equipped.
Priorities for the coming term
Residents put the development of public transport at the top of their list:
- 41% make it their priority,
- 20% cite improving public transport safety,
- 11% want lower travel costs.
In addition, the separation of modes of transport is gaining ground in public opinion:
- 43% of French people approve of reserving part of the roadway for buses, bicycles and pedestrians, (up to 48% in major cities).
To find out more and discover all the results of the study, visit the Keolis website: Keoscopie Municipales – Mobility expectations of the French.
Mobility and Municipal Elections: A Unified Territory within the French Archipelago