Welcome to this special edition of Mobility Stories dedicated to the road. We are broadcasting live from the Château de Cerisy-la-Salle in Normandy, where an international conference is being held on the theme of "Understanding the Road: Between Imaginaries, Meaning and Innovation."

Researchers, scientists, experts and historians take turns at the microphones of Movin'On and L’Express across four original episodes.

The road is, of course, a central theme in sustainable mobility. We use it all the time: to buy bread, get to work, go on holiday, travel and receive deliveries. It is a symbol of our society, reflecting our values, aspirations and contradictions.

It is part of our lives and has become part of our heritage as 21st-century human beings. Yet it underwent several revolutions before becoming what it is today. 

This is the fascinating subject of the first episode in this special series, which we are sharing with you, featuring:

• Mathieu Flonneau, lecturer and researcher, specialising in the mobilities of road-based civilisation and motoring.

• Aurélien Bellanger, novelist and columnist for Le Nouvel Obs.

• Catherine Bertho-Lavenir, historian specialising in roads and author of “La roue et le stylo : comment nous sommes devenus touristes”, published by Odile Jacob.