Bordeaux changes streetlight hours to improve public safety
Cutting back the hours streetlights were on at night has saved council over €1 million since 2023
A local committee will monitor the impact of the change in lighting
Eo naya/Shutterstock
Streetlights in Bordeaux will stay on for longer at night to improve public safety, local authorities have announced.
Local residents had complained about the danger of travelling at night, particularly after 01:00 when many lights were switched off.
The city initiated a policy in January 2023 that saw many streetlights turned off at 01:00 in the morning to reduce light pollution and improve biodiversity for nocturnal animals.
In addition to its ecological aims it helped reduce the city’s energy bill by 26% and resulted in over €1 million in savings during the energy crisis.
However, the city will partially backtrack on this measure from March 31.
An increased number of ‘strategic’ streetlights will remain on overnight whilst the others, around 55%, will stay on until 02:30 instead of 01:00, the city announced on its website.
Those off will then light at 05:00 to facilitate morning travellers before turning off again when it is bright enough.
It will “enable the people of Bordeaux to make 90% of their night-time journeys in lit areas,” said Green Party mayor Pierre Hurmic.
Costs to be offset by LED lights
The measures will cost over €300,000. However this is expected to be offset by around three-quarters of the city’s streetlights being converted into energy efficient LED models by 2026 (when the current mayor’s term ends).
A public committee comprising officials, experts, and members of local neighbourhood associations will monitor the impact of the changes.
In particular, it will include members who “pay particular attention to women in the public space,” said deputy mayor Claudine Bichet to Ouest-France.
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