Since
1982, France has been divided into 22 administrative regions, each
with its own budget for local development. The "Observatoire
inter-régional de politique" (Inter-regional Policy Observatory,
known as the OIP) recently carried out a survey on regional matters,
including how aware French people are of belonging to a region and
their confidence in regional administrative services, and regional
transport policies. Findings indicate that the number of people who
have confidence in the future of their region has increased since
1998, while the number of those who have confidence in the future
of France is stable, and the number of those who have confidence in
the future of Europe has decreased.
65%
of the population consider that the various means of transport in
the region are "very" or "fairly" satisfactory,
with a positive majority in all 22 regions, despite regional disparities.
A majority of French people are satisfied with roads and highways
(70%), while at least 60% are also satisfied with public transport,
long-distance trains, intra-regional express trains (TERs) and high-speed
trains (TGVs).
The
enquiry showed that opinion on all transport infrastructure has improved
since 1993. Regions on the Atlantic coast express a strong demand
for links with other regions and intra-regional links, while people
living in the south, east and northern borders of France express a
strong demand for links with other European countries. Decentralized
regions and those around metropolitan Paris want improved links with
the capital.
Concerning
train transportation, 43% of people questioned considered that it
had improved in their region. Respondents' main preoccupations are:
feeling safe in trains and stations, complementary means of transport,
special pricing policies, coverage of the entire region, punctuality
and frequency. However, TER passengers are less concerned about a
safe environment than by frequency of trains and pricing policies.
83% of French people consider that little-used railway lines and stations
should be maintained for the sake of service to the public, despite
high costs to the community, and 52% want the SNCF (national railway
company) to continue as a monopoly to guarantee passenger service.
The
OIP also studied the way in which inhabitants perceive the regions
they live in. Seven out of ten French people know the name of the
region they belong to, and two-thirds the name of its capital. Nearly
half those interviewed predict that decisions made at the regional
level will have an increased influence on their lives in ten years,
with nearly all expecting the effects to be positive.
