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PhD student in political science, focusing on the study of public transport policy-making, with a particular emphasis on understanding the role of expertise.
Understanding the Development of Free Public Transport in France
Thesis Title: Free Public Transport: A New Public Policy Paradigm or Contingent Measures?
Thesis Supervisor: Philippe Zittoun
The thesis aims to understand the dynamics behind the development of completely free public transport in France, amidst significant opposition from experts. Despite growing opposition from various transport interest groups and experts, the policy has been expanding to cover increasingly larger areas (Aubagne in 2009, Dunkirk in 2018, and Montpellier in 2023).
The research seeks to comprehend the experts’ opposition to free public transport and its consequences on both the defense and implementation of the policy. The methodology involves a detailed study of the local trajectories of free public transport in various cities (Montpellier, Paris, and Lyon). This includes extensive press reviews and grey literature analyses, followed by interviews with key actors involved in public policy-making.
This approach complements existing research on the effectiveness of free public transport, particularly studies conducted at LAET.
2025 | When expertise shapes the boundaries of the governable: the political work of transport experts on free public transport in France
European Group for Public Administration, aou 2025, Glasgow, Ecosse
2025 | Framing impossible solutions: elements for a theoretical proposition based on the case of free public transport in France
International Conference on Public Policy, jul 2025, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2025 | L’impossible gratuité des transports
Rencontres Francophones Transport Mobilité, jun 2025, Dunkerque, France
2025 | When Free Public Transport Is Imposed: From Disruption to Implementation of a Contested Public Policy
LIPHA Doctoral Conference, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire du Politique Hannah Arendt, Jun 2025, Fontainebleau, France
2025 | Contesting the Impossible: Processes of De·legitimizing Free Public Transport (Poster)
LAET Doctoral Conference, Laboratoire Aménagement Économie Transports, Apr 2025, Lyon (Maison des Sciences de l’Homme)
2025 | The Obstacles to Free Public Transport: Understanding Resistance and Adaptation
LAET Doctoral Conference, Laboratoire Aménagement Économie Transports, Apr 2025, Lyon (Maison des Sciences de l’Homme)
2024 | Presentation of the role of scientific public policy knowledge and advice the trajectory of free public transport policy in Montpellier
International Workshop on Public Policy – International Public Policy Association, Guadalajara (Mexico)
2024 | Presentation of the public policy community on transport and the trajectory of free public transport policy in Montpellier
International Winter School on Public Policy – International Public Policy Association, Alps (France)
2024 | Presentation on the trajectory of fare-free public transport in France
PhD Student Presentation – Graduate School of Civil, Environmental and Urban Engineering, Lyon (France)
2023 | Presentation of the research project of the thesis
International Winter School on Public Policy – International Public Policy Association, Alps (France)
2019 – 2022 et 2023 – 2025 | Membre du Conseil d’Administration
École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l’État, Lyon (France)
2023 – 2025 | Volontaire
International Public Policy Association
International Conference on Public Policy, 6th edition in Toronto (Canada)
International Workshop on Public Policy, 4th edition in Guadalajara (Mexico)
International Conference on Public Policy, 7th edition Chiang Mai (Thaïlande)
2023 – 2024 | Co-organizer of the Seminar of PhD Student
Laboratory of Urban Planning, Economics, and Transportation, Lyon (France)
2024-2025 | M1 | 3 h
Intervenant : Analyses mixtes pour comprendre et modéliser les mobilités (M1)
Introduction à l’analyse processuelle des politiques publiques. Exercices sur des articles de presse et entretiens.
Graduate School of Civil, Environmental and Urban Engineering, Lyon (France)
2023-2024 | 2 x 27 h/year Teacher of the course “introduction to social sciences and political science” (3rd year of Bachelor’s degree)
Mentored students in dissecting complex scientific debates, focusing on critical examination of scientific arguments, identification and analysis of key actors involved, and understanding the chronological development of controversies.
Graduate School of Civil, Environmental and Urban Engineering, Lyon (France)
2024 | 3 h Visiting Instructor in the Course: The Major Challenges of Ecological Transition (2nd year of Master’s degree)
Presentation of my research work, emphasizing the methods used. Proposals of exercises to establish an analysis method and simplified implementation.
Graduate School of Civil, Environmental and Urban Engineering, Lyon (France)
2023 | 2 x 9 h Teacher of the seminar “feedback from the internship” (1st year of Master’s degree)
Provided mentorship to students on conducting sociological analyses of internship structures, focusing on organizational dynamics, workplace culture, and the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experiences.
Graduate School of Civil, Environmental and Urban Engineering, Lyon (France)
2025 | Encadrement de mémoires professionnels
Supervision de la réalisation de deux mémoires du Graduate Programme Management opérationnel des transports ENTPE-Transdev
Laboratoire Aménagement Économie des Transports, Lyon (France)
2024 | Master Thesis supervisor
Supervision of a student.
Laboratory of Urban Planning, Economics, and Transportation, Lyon (France)
IdHAL :
felicien-boiron
ORCID :
0009-0006-6633-9834
Google Scholar :
https://scholar.google.com/citations…
LAET – ENTPE
Rue Maurice Audin
F-69518 Vaulx-en-Velin Cedex
Tel : +33 04 72 04 72 44
