ROAD PRICING: HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE A HYPOTHETICAL INTRODUCTION. THE CASE OF LYON

Following Singapore (1975), some metropolitan areas introduced pricing schemes to make car users aware of the real costs of their trip. This research looks at citizens’ reactions to the hypothetical introduction of a road pricing scheme in Lyon (France). People’s perceptions were investigated through a sample of 61 persons selected according to a stratified sampling plan. A web-questionnaire was administered to the participants, and eight focus groups were then organized, each including about 7-8 persons. The focus groups allowed us to investigate the participants’ opinions, emotions, and reactions to the hypothetical introduction of different road pricing schemes in the urban area. This research has largely confirmed what found in previous studies and its key additional contribution is the clustering of citizens according to their reactions. Different groups of people showed dissimilar attitudes and opinions about the effect of road pricing, but the whole sample agreed upon the need for a coherent policy both for transport planning and management in the Lyon metropolitan area, while respecting freedom of mobility. In fact, citizens expect that a reduction of their freedom to move by car should be compensated with a strong and clear policy to improve the alternative modes and want to know clearly how revenues will be spent. A clear communication policy should be defined and this should be tailored according to the different groups defined in this paper.