France launches national project to help map rural paths and local roads

A new online tool to help communes across France better map local roads and rural paths is currently under development. 

Known as the Voies locales en commun (local roads) programme, the tool could help improve walkers and cyclists access to rural areas by making routes open to the public more clearly identifiable. 

Currently under development, the programme is being run by the Fabrique de la donnée territoriale - an incubator operated by France’s National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information (Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière, IGN). 

The programme focuses on two types of road, the first being voies communales (local roads). These are public roads that can be used by vehicles and/or pedestrians that make up some two-thirds of the national road network, and which are constantly increasing as new routes are built.

The second type of road is the chemins ruraux (unmarked footpaths) - not to be confused with the GR, GRP or PR hiking routes. These are local countryside trails that can be used by the public. However, more often than not they are unmaintained due to a lack of funds, and many have fallen into disuse or become overgrown.

Over 200,000 km of rural footpaths have disappeared in France in the last 40 years, Stéphane Delautrette, MP for Haute-Vienne, told Le Figaro in 2023.

Why is this tool being created?

Under the Code de la voirie routière (Articles L141-1 à L141-13), the classification and declassification of local roads in France is decided by local councils, which are also responsible for drawing up alignment and levelling plans. However, these are not always consistently recorded.

The Voies locales en commun programme is being created to support local councils in recording their roads, and therefore to update old, incomplete data, and improve the public accessibility of this information.

This information is particularly important for a number of reasons, such as: 

• Indicating local routes for farmers, walkers, cyclists, and residents,

• Identifying available routes for firefighters to reach emergencies,

• Determining precise measurements for road maintenance,

• Assessing liability in the event of an accident,

• Specifying ownership of local roads.

How can local residents use this data?

In contrast to the Right to Roam laws in the UK, which provide rights of access to walkers in many rural areas, people in France typically cannot use paths if they cross private property - unless an agreement has been made between the landowners and the department or commune.

“If there’s a sign saying chemin privé (private road) or voie privée (private track), in France there is a clear rule: you do not go there. Whereas on a rural track, it is open to the public,” said Sophie Clairet, Voies locales en commun deployment manager at beta.gouv - a startup support program that helps public authorities develop digital services. 

“If there is no open data and no sign to indicate whether a path is private - it is difficult to know,” she added. 

For this reason, the Voies locales en commun programme seeks to better indicate roads that walkers and cyclists can legally use, with information likely being used to update and improve sites such as cartes.gouv.fr.

The programme is also set to collaborate with the Plan départemental des itinéraires de promenade et de randonnée (PDIPR) to identify routes accessible to those with reduced mobility, said Ms Clairet. 

Why are rural paths important?

Footpaths not only provide scenic routes through the countryside - they make up the land’s physical heritage, with some paths having existed for hundreds of years.

Rural paths also help to boost biodiversity, bring environmental benefits, and improve safety.

"These country lanes once linked hamlets and villages, so if we restore them, we won’t be restricted to using main roads - we can walk amongst the trees - they are safer, greener spaces for local communities," said Ms Clairet. 

Paths can also help in areas with heightened flooding risks. 

“In Seine-et-Marne for example, flooding is an issue, and these rural paths are an important part of the solution because adding hedges on either side can help the water penetrate the ground and drain away,” said Ms Clairet. 

Initiatives such as the annual Journées des Chemins - which this year ran from February 28-March 8 - also seek to promote the importance of footpaths by encouraging volunteers to clear undergrowth from the hidden routes that were once a key part of countryside life.

When will the programme be up and running?

Following a preliminary study which has proved the programme’s value and feasibility, the initiative is now in the development phase and will be rolled out to as many users as possible, as soon as the platform has been appropriately tested. 

Although unable to give a precise date, Ms Clairet expects the project to move quickly. 

Information will first be made available on the government’s open data portal - data.gouv.fr - before being integrated onto another user-friendly platform.