Urban cableway installations

Cableway transport systems are virtually non-existent in French urban and suburban public transport.
In France, aerial ropeways and gondola lifts are still seen primarily as systems for transporting skiers at winter sports resorts. However, the Law of 3 August 2009, which forms the basis of France’s environmental policy, identifies these transport systems as alternatives that can offer effective solutions for a policy of reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

With this in mind, Certu and STRMTG conducted a study over a period of almost two years, with the aim of informing local players in the transport sector about the specific issues associated with this “new” mode of urban transport.

They worked with research teams from two other departments of the ministry to carry out the investigations: CETE Lyon and CETE Méditerranée. This made it possible to include international case studies, an in-depth bibliography and numerous discussions with professionals in the field.

A summary report entitled “Aerial cableways as urban transport systems” was published in 2011. It summarises the information needed to make decisions for urban cableway installations, including technologies, capacity, quality of service, urban integration, costs, visual and environmental impact, etc.
It was followed by a more comprehensive publication on the subject that came out in spring 2012.