In 2018, Gobee Bike was forced to leave two French cities due to damage to its bikes. Self-service in France works less well than elsewhere, because people break everything. We are like that, us, kinds of villains. The idea is not to do French bashing, but to understand why certain positive services (not to mention scooters) do not manage to establish themselves properly in our somewhat crafty regions.
1. Bikes available independently
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Gobee Bike has closed its branches in Reims and Lille following too many damages. In Reims, out of the fleet of 400 bicycles, 380 were unusable. The Franco-Hong Kong company has decided to withdraw because of the costs incurred. It’s a shame, because the service reinforced the offer of self-service bicycles in the big cities and was the only provider in Reims. Mage-do. Since then there have been scooters, but is this good news?
2. The requisition of housing for the homeless
In other countries, the State has made a simple calculation: a homeless person costs more on the street than in housing. Therefore, the public authorities are able to requisition vacant housing to accommodate people living on the street. This is particularly the case of Utah, which has systematically applied the measure for ten years. But in France, despite the legislative provisions put in place by Cécile Duflot, the requisition of vacant housing does not work, the fault of a very strong animosity of the citizens towards the measure which amounts in the collective imagination to violating private property. Anyway, don’t touch my apartment. Once again, it’s a shame, because when you see the vacant housing stock in France, you think you’re walking on your head.
3. Youth hostels
There are obviously youth hostels in France. But the offer is ultra-limited (152 in total throughout the territory) compared to other countries in the world. In the Nordic countries or in Latin America, the youth hostel is the system that young people use to travel in good conditions at affordable prices. France is a country of hotels and hoteliers and the appearance of Airbnb has not helped matters, as France is one of the main markets for the company.
4. The establishment of dignified prison conditions
In France, prison living conditions have become a sea serpent of public debate. The investment made in the prison policy is totally insufficient and the population seems to find it normal that the prison park is overheated with an occupancy rate of nearly 140% in the remand centers. Even though prison is often singled out as a place of radicalization for common law prisoners and confrontation with organized crime, it is time to take inspiration from Nordic models where the recidivism rate is much lower than in France. . Prison must also prepare for reintegration and is not simply an instrument of punishment and prevention.
5. Funding for free and Wikipedia
Wikipedia does not publish its donation statistics by country, but it is interesting to note that, according to a study, only 11% of French Wikipedia users say they are ready to give money to the Foundation, which only works on donations and is not part of a profit model but one of collaborative mutual aid. On the other hand, countries like India respond favorably to 42% of these requests for donations. Even Egypt explodes our counters, and the United States ditto. We really don’t like to pay in France.
6. Meditation at school
While studies are multiplying proving the long-term benefits of meditation on health, well-being and the ability to concentrate, France is still slow to embrace the movement. In the United States, Canada or Northern Europe, meditation methods adapted to children have been implemented in certain classes since 2009. But in France, the public authorities remain skeptical about these practices, the fruit without doubt of a very enlightened rationalism and sometimes a little stupid because it is capable of assimilating any attempt to get better to stupid mysticism.
7. Self-service books
In Denmark, England and in general in all countries where it is cold, the practice of the public and open library is common: we take a book, we replace it with another. The books pass from hand to hand. In France, the thing does not take: the books are too often degraded, even burned, and the culture is accessible only while passing a portal, even if it is free.
8. Selective sorting
More than half of French people say they do not systematically sort their waste. This is an alarming figure when compared to the good students in this area, which are always the same: the northern countries. However, the implementation of selective sorting in France dates from the very beginning of the 2000s: it is difficult to speak of an adaptation phase over such a long time.
9. Individual financing of public transport
France is the world champion in transport fraud. 52% of French people consider it acceptable to defraud in transport. There is also the legacy of a certain idea of French public service, supposedly free. However, transport fraud represents a significant shortfall that hinders the construction of inclusive infrastructure for populations living in the periphery.
10. The drop in speed
Almost everywhere in the world, road safety policies have led to lower speed limits than we know. In France, everything is complicated. The move to 80 km/h on national roads triggered a general outcry which finally ended with a delegation to local authorities of the decision-making power as to the maximum speed authorized at home. Suffice to say that we quickly returned to 90 km / h.