Will the center of Paris become pedestrian?

The heart of Paris could be banned from car traffic by next year, while a consultation is launched.

We know that the car is not really welcome at Paris, and the situation is unlikely to improve in the years to come. And for good reason, in addition to the elimination of several thousand parking spaces and the ban on the circulation of diesel cars then gasoline by 2030, Anne Hidalgo wants to go even further, and above all, faster. Indeed, after having closed the lanes on the banks a few years earlier, the city council recently announced that it wanted to prevent so-called “transit” journeys in the capital. At the end of last year, Anne Hidalgo, then re-elected at the head of the town hall had indeed granted an interview to the Parisian, affirming then that ” crossing Paris from east to west by car is something to forget “. The city council therefore wishes to prohibit access to certain neighborhoods for cars, by making the center of paris fully pedestrian by 2022. Concretely, the first four districts of the capital could be affected by this measure.

This has been mentioned for years by Anne Hidalgo, who has made car hunting her hobbyhorse since her arrival at the town hall of Paris. But no decision had yet been taken, the project being forgotten over the years. But now it has just resurfaced, while a vast citizen consultation has just been set up, on May 12, in order to collect the opinions of Parisians on the question. According to the elected official, this measure would aim to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians, but also to reduce pollution linked to exhaust gas emissions. Parisians therefore have until June 30 to give their opinion on this perimeter forbidden to cars, called “Zone Apaisées”, which would then include the entire Paris Center sector, ” as well as the streets north of Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements “. The objective would then be to create new spaces allowing Parisians to sit, share or even play sports.

Possible exemptions

According to the town hall of Paris, “ only 30% of transit people absolutely need the car to make their trip “, A figure that remains very high despite everything. This does not prevent it from wanting to prohibit these users from crossing the capital, while the figures affirm that “service vehicles”, such as utilities, taxis and heavy goods vehicles still represent 33% of traffic. While private car users will therefore have to find alternatives for traveling in Paris in the coming years, there will however be exemptions for certain users and vehicles. Among them are public transport, bicycles, police and emergency services, but also people with disabilities and residents. Holders of a Temporary Occupation Authorization will also be able to drive in the districts concerned, as will delivery men and hotel customers.