Department of Inland Transport (France) – INFORMATION ON INTERCITY NETWORKS (coaches) 1981

Description

The Inland Transport Department, under a new law recognizing passengers’ right to information, formed a study group to improve communication between intercity coach networks and users. It found past promotional efforts since 1975 were sporadic, temporary and often ineffective, leaving vehicles, stops and timetables inadequately marked. The working party focused on three core products: a combined inter-company timetable (recommended as a compact accordion-fold leaflet with maps and company info), standardised stop identification (use of an approved coach silhouette sign, stop names, principal destinations and prioritized timetable details), and coherent exterior/interior vehicle labelling. A glossary of standardized vocabulary and presentation rules was proposed to ensure clarity (e.g., time and fare formats). The report notes the network’s scale—3,500 companies, 35,000 vehicles, 350 million annual passengers—and argues that improved, sustained information is affordable and would quickly enhance the system’s image, usage and efficiency if authorities adopt a coordinated long-term information policy.