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2024: test year for the bus

by Milena Radoman
To encourage Monégasques to take the bus, the government is experimenting in 2024 with express
services and on-demand transport.

“We need to work on the modal shift from and L'Annonciade. “This system has been to both.” The government has promised this
the car to public transport,” indicates the developing in other cities and we can afford new offer will not be followed by an increase
Minister of Public Works, Environment and to do it in Monaco, particularly in certain in ticket prices.
Urban Development, Céline Caron. In short: isolated districts,” explains Céline Caron. The Those expecting a new free bus experience,
convince motorists to “not always take the car eight-seater, electric mini-bus-style vehicle however, will be disappointed for such an offer
to go from A to B. The Monaco Bus Company thus complements the existing network, also is not on the cards. Total and general free
(CAM) may have transported nearly 6.6 operating at night across the Principality. intramural public transport in the Principality
million passengers in 2023 but the Monaco The way it is managed is with bus stops only was, however, on the programme of the
bus network suffers from traffic jams, in the at certain strategic points (place d'Armes, Monégasque National Union, in power at the
absence of dedicated bus lanes across the Fontvieille Shopping Centre, place des Moulins National Council since 2023, whilst in certain
Principality. “The bus can move quickly, then and Monte-Carlo Tourist Office). On the countries such as Luxembourg and cities
suddenly be stuck at a junction,” points out practical side, during the day, the ClicBus like Montpelier and Tallinn, public transport
Céline Caron, citing the example of the casino will be available seven days a week from is free...
area, a strategic service and collection sector 7 am to 9:20 pm. At night, the service will be
for the CAM. To improve the transport offer, available from all the Principality's bus stops
the CAM is launching “introductory products”. from 9:20 pm to 1:30 am (and until 2:30 am
Since mid-April, new express lines have been on Fridays and Saturdays). “In summer, these
put into service connecting the Salines parking hours could be extended,” the government has
lot, La Condamine, and the Monte Carlo district. said in a press release. “The goal is not to go
Others will be in operation soon (before the everywhere in Monaco,” according to Céline
2024 Grand Prix) to quickly travel from Larvotto Caron. “It’s not competition for taxis as they
to Fontvieille along two routes (either via both have a different role.” To benefit from
Princess Grace Avenue or the backbone). transport from or to one of the three districts
Frequency announced: every 10 minutes. served, you simply order a bus to come to
Expected ridership in 2024: 1,160 trips. the bus stop closest to you, whether for one
person or a group. Reservation can be made
Transport on demand for the Plati, Les Fleurs via the mobile app or by telephone (+33 4 92
and L’Annonciade districts 00 17 99). Another upcoming change: “This © Tous droits réservés
Another experiment is transport on demand, on-demand transport line will run alongside
with the ClicBus Monaco, which has been the current night buses for a certain time. It
serving three neighbourhoods without other will operate at night and, little by little, it will « En 2025, l’ensemble de la flotte active sera décarbonée »,
a annoncé la Ministre.
public transport since the end of March: replace the night bus. We won't stop it right “In 2025, the entire active bus fleet will be carbon-free,”
Plati, also served by Line 7; Les Fleurs away but we will see how the public respond announced the minister.

© Tous droits réservés

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