A podcast to understand the challenges of mobility
“Les Voix de la mobilité”, a podcast from Keolis, brings together the voices of those who imagine, build, and experience public transport—today and in the future. Through a series of in-depth conversations, experts, employees, decision-makers, and users share their perspectives on mobility as a major societal issue.
“The unexpected consensus on mobility”
A striking 99% of people in France support diversifying modes of transportation and view mobility as a combination of complementary solutions. This key insight comes from a comprehensive study conducted by Keolis' Keoscopie observatory among 2,000 respondents.
In the first episode of the podcast, Victor Delage, Director General of the Terram Institute, and Xavier Desjardins, professor of urban planning and spatial development at Sorbonne University, share their expert perspectives on this finding.
“How transportation puts mental health to the test”
According to a study by the Terram Institute, a think tank focused on regional issues 40% of French people experiencing mental health challenges attribute them in part to transportation. While mobility plays a vital role in supporting well-being and fostering social connections, it can also be a source of stress, whether due to car dependency, overcrowed public transport, or frequent delays.
In the second episode of the podcast, Annelise Avril, CEO of France Urban Networks at Keolis Group, and Angèle Malâtre-Lansac, Executive Director of the Alliance for Mental Health, explore how mobility impacts psychological well-being.
“Women's safety in transportation: removing barriers to mobility”
According to a Keolis study on gender and mobility, 30% of women avoid using public transport at night due to fear of assault. Geographer Guy di Méo describes the pehnomenon as an “invisible wall”, highlighting how fear and insecurity can limit our travel choices. How can public transport be made safer, more inclusive and more welcoming for everyone?
In this third episode of the podcast, Virginie Perrey, Security Director at Keolis Group, discusses the measures being implemented to improve safety. They include comprehensive staff training, video surveillance, alert systems, and exploratory walks with female users to identify areas that may feel unsafe. As she emphasizes, “without safety, there is no public transport.”
“Mobility and local government: a shared vision across the French archipelago”
What do people in French expect from transportation? How do priorities differ between urban, suburban and rural areas? Do political views shape these expectations? And how do people get around in their daily lives?
In the run-up to the March 2026 municipal elections, 4,000 people across France shared their views in an exclusive IFOP survey conducted for Keolis. The findings reveal a broad consensus on the importance of mobility. When asked how they would allocate a €100,000 municipal budget, a majority said they would dedicate the largest share to transportation.
In this fourth episode of the podcast, Jérôme Fourquet, Director of the Opinion and Business Strategy Department at IFOP, and Abdellah Chajai, Director of Marketing, Innovation, Sustainable Development, and Engagement at Keolis Group, discuss key insights from this survey.
“Public transport and an ageing population: rising to the challenge”
With 30% of France’s population expected to be over 60 by 2030, mobility must evolve to meet changing societal needs. Today’s seniors want to stay active, independent and mobile. Supporting this ambition means designing more accessible and inclusive transport solutions for passengers of all ages. It starts with understanding the needs of older customers and implementing practical solutions today, while preparing for future changes.
Our guests on episode 5 of the podcast are Clément Michel, CEO France, Regions at Keolis, and Luc Broussy, President of France Silver Eco, a consortium of public and private-sector stakeholders serving the ageing population. They discuss strategies and real-world solutions already shaping more senior-friendly public transport systems.
“How to tell the story of mobility in order to change perspectives and transform practices”
Mobility plays a key part in our lives and cannot be reduced to a technical matter. In order to study, work and seek medical care one needs to be able to move around freely. But in the age of social media and long-distance trips, traveling also fulfills needs higher up in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; the need for belonging and esteem. How can we move beyond a utilitarian view of mobility and make travel appealing again? How can we shed light on the issues connected to public transportation for the general public?
In this sixth episode of the podcast, Sophie Durand, Director of Communications for the Keolis Group, and Benjamin Martinie, founder of Hourrail media outlet specializing in low-carbon travel, outline ideas in order to build a public narrative about mobility—the “highest of all rights.”
“The same everywhere, with local accents: a surprising consensus on mobility”
Ask people in Hyderabad, Stockholm, Montreal, Sydney or Paris what they want from public transport, and their answers are remarkably similar. Keolis and Toluna conducted an international survey of 8,000 people in 20 cities across 11 countries where Keolis operates. And results showed that passengers everywhere share the same priorities: frequent service and transport options that are safer, easier to use and better suited to lifestyles that have changed dramatically.
To explore the findings of this first-of-its-kind survey, episode 7 welcomes David O’Neill, Director of Marketing and Outlook at Keolis, and Arnaud Aymé, a transport specialist at consulting firm SIA. They examine the issues raised by survey respondents including fares, service frequency, diversity of transport options available, anti-social behaviour and the sense of insecurity it can create. And they lay out ways to improve the “enormous asset” that is public transport.
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