Metropolitics

Planning in the Age of Political Populism: Kolkata's Tram Debate

Tathagata Chatterji — 2025-06-10T05:00:00Z

Using the case of Kolkata's tram system, Tathagata Chatterji shows how two distinct political strategies—populism and clientelism—operate in a symbiotic relationship to circumvent formal planning processes in India's third-largest city.
Political populism and clientelism are two distinct political strategies with significant conceptual overlaps. From a theoretical standpoint, political populism is associated with charismatic leaders who mobilise mass support through ideological and rhetorical

- Essays / India, Global South, Asia, Kolkata, mass transit, rapid transit, transport, transport policy, public transportation, tram, clientelism, populism, streetcar, light rail, tramway

Aéroports de Paris: A Strategic Lever for the French State?

Nathalie Roseau & translated by Oliver Waine — 2021-01-26T06:00:00Z

Following growing controversy surrounding the French government's plans to privatize the Aéroports de Paris (ADP) group, Nathalie Roseau looks back at the history of this organization and questions the wisdom of such a reform.
On April 11, 2019, France's lower house of parliament, the Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly) approved a law known as PACTE (Plan d'Action pour la Croissance et la Transformation des Entreprises – Action Plan for Growth and Transformation of Enterprises), paving

- Debates / climate change, Greater Paris, airport, sustainable development, Île-de-France, ADP, France, globalization, Paris region, Paris, transport, transport policy, environment, environmental protection, economic development, territorial development, privatization

Dunkirk as a New “Laboratory” for Free Transit

Henri Briche & Maxime Huré & translated by Oliver Waine — 2018-06-29T05:00:00Z

From September 2018, the public transport network in Dunkirk, France, will be free of charge for all users. Henri Briche and Maxime Huré's research into the zero-fare system already in place in the city at weekends affirms the feasibility of a public policy that encourages urban development and benefits working-class populations – but is often decried as being unrealistic and costly. How was this policy forged locally, and what is the current state of the art in fare-free transit in France and

- From the Field / France, public transportation, United States, mobility, transport, free, mass transit, rapid transit, bus, transport policy, Dunkerque, Hauts-de-France, Nord–Pas-de-Calais, Dunkirk, Northern France, fares

More Affordable Transit Fares

Alexis Perrotta — 2016-04-26T05:00:00Z

Low-income urban residents often struggle to afford transit fares. Seattle recently established half-fares for poor residents, and other cities are considering similar measures. Yet the policy spheres of welfare and transit are rarely coordinated in the US. Alexis Perrotta proposes a progressive fare policy that would offer an annual fare pass that riders could buy with their income-tax refunds.
The Community Service Society recently released a survey that highlights the problem of

- Debates / public transportation, inequalities, United States, transport, welfare state, mass transit, transport policy

A flat-rate travel card for the Paris region: revolution or illusion?

Marie-Hélène Massot & translated by Oliver Waine — 2015-11-06T06:00:00Z

Fare “dezoning” in the Paris region – a key reform to mark the end of Jean-Paul Huchon's term as leader of Île‑de‑France regional council – came into force in September 2015. Marie-Hélène Massot takes a look at the origins of this measure and questions its relevance and its long-term sustainability.
Farewell, fare zones! For every one of the 3.8 million holders of weekly, monthly and annual travel cards in the Paris region – whether they live in Paris proper or the farthest-flung suburb – a

- Debates / Île-de-France, public transportation, mobility, transport, Greater Paris, mass transit, rapid transit, transport policy

Free public transport: from social experiment to political alternative?

Maxime Huré & translated by Oliver Waine — 2013-03-20T05:59:01Z

In a work combining storytelling and reflection, a local councillor and a philosopher analyse the policy of free public transport implemented since 2009 in Aubagne, near Marseille. A resounding success with residents, this experiment has opened the way to a stimulating debate on the feasibility of policies that offer an alternative to market-led solutions in urban areas.
Free public transport appears to be something of a taboo subject both in society at large and in the world of the social

- Reviews / public space, public transportation, market, mobility, transport, urban public service, Aubagne, public policy, free, mass transit, transport policy, urban technical networks, urban services

From Vélib' to Autolib': private corporations' involvement in urban mobility policy

Maxime Huré & translated by Oliver Waine — 2012-04-25T06:35:58Z

In December 2011 – four years after the launch of Vélib' – Paris inaugurated Autolib', the largest system of self-service electric cars in the world. Leaving aside the debate on the economic and technical viability of Autolib', the development of self-service mobility services has brought with it the increased involvement of large private groups in the production of urban policy, contributing to the privatisation of public spaces and redefining the notion of public service.
With the

- Debates / mobility, transport, public–private partnership, urban public service, self-service, bicycles, cars, privatization, urban technical networks, urban services, Vélib', bicycle-sharing, active mobility, transport policy, cycling