INVESTIGATE CITIZENS’ REACTIONS TOWARDS THE HYPOTHETIC INTRODUCTION OF A ROAD PRICING SCHEME IN LYON (FRANCE)

Since Singapore (1975), some metropolitan areas have introduced pricing schemes to make car users aware of the real costs of their trip. This research delves at citizens’ reactions towards an hypothetic introduction of a road pricing scheme in Lyon (France). People’s perceptions were investigated through a sample of 61 persons selected according to: age, gender, household composition, occupation, income level and residence location. A web-questionnaire was administered to the participants, and eight focus groups were then organized, each including 7-8 persons. The focus groups allowed to investigate the participants’ opinions, emotions, and reactions towards a hypothetical introduction of different road pricing schemes in the urban area. Finally, another web-questionnaire was addressed to collect quantitative data to supplement the qualitative outcomes of the focus groups. An often evoked outcome is a likely progressive urbanization, but what the whole sample agreed upon is the quest for a coherent policy both for transport planning and management in the Lyon metropolitan area, while respecting the freedom of mobility. Qualitative methods allows monitoring citizens’ emotions, their reactions to road pricing, and changes of opinions when issues are analysed from multiple points of view. The outcomes highlight the importance of using alternative methods when pricing issues are investigated.