Green Fund: In Châteaubriant-Derval, electric bikes available on a pay-as-you-go basis to improve access to an industrial area
The 2025 report on this program dedicates a chapter to sustainable mobility in rural areas. Among the 194 projects supported, that of this community in Loire-Atlantique, equipped by Mobicity—a company affiliated with AVEM—demonstrates how a modest grant can strengthen an existing network.
Nearly 80% of rural residents rely on private cars due to a lack of alternatives, according to the 2025 report by the Green Fund published by the government this summer. Fifteen million French people face mobility challenges. To address this, the France Ruralités plan, launched in 2023, makes sustainable mobility a priority, with the Green Fund serving as one of its main financial tools. It helps local authorities develop strategies and a range of services, including on-demand transportation, bike rentals, car-sharing, or community transport.
194 projects selected out of 370 applications
In the year 2025 alone, 370 applications were submitted under the “Sustainable Mobility in Rural Areas” initiative, with 194 approved. A total of 176 local communities and partners received support, amounting to 12.8 million euros in grants and a total project cost of 62 million euros. These funds enabled the development of 158 mobility strategies and the creation of 36 new services.
Communal unions were the most active, with 99 approved applications, followed by individual municipalities (53). Projects were supported in 66 departments, both in mainland France and overseas territories. Ultimately, approximately 2 million people are expected to benefit from a mobility service or package of services.
Châteaubriant-Derval: Two more stations, an expanding network
The report highlights the project of the Châteaubriant-Derval Community (Loire-Atlantique). A grant of 38,250 euros funded two new electric-assisted bicycle (E-bike) stations available for public use, installed in a business park near two key employers in the area.
Their value lies primarily in their integration into an existing network. They operate alongside eight other stations in the region, including those at the multimodal transport hub at the train station, which facilitate travel to Nantes and Rennes. Users can get off the train and continue their journey by bike, or vice versa.
Operated by Mobicity, this network features around fifty self-service e-bikes. Access is granted via contactless card, smartphone, or credit card at a rate of 1 euro per hour, with a limit of 12 consecutive hours. It complements the community’s long-term electric bike rental service, serving both daily commutes and occasional needs.
Kilian Payelle, head of the mobility service at the community’s territorial planning and environment department, praises the solution for its “sleek and unobtrusive design” as well as its “robust charging stations.”
The Green Fund will remain available in 2026
The measure that funded this project has been discontinued. It was replaced starting April 7, 2026, by “Sustainable Mobility in Rural and Medium-Density Areas,” which expands eligibility to areas with moderate population density. Car-sharing services, cycling infrastructure, carpooling, vehicle sharing, and on-demand transportation remain eligible under this new measure.
Applications can be submitted until December 31, 2026. However, since the national budget allocated to the Green Fund has been reduced for 2026, interested local authorities should avoid waiting until the last months of the year.
