There’s no better pleasure than strolling around a walkable city, is there? And while European cities are overall pretty good when it comes to walkability, there are still certain areas riddled with congestion and pollution from car traffic.
In Paris, though, that could all be about to change. City mayor Anne Hidalgo has introduced a new ‘limited traffic zone’ in certain areas of central Paris, and it kicks off today.
As of November 4, the first, second, third and fourth arrondissements, which are home to some of the city’s most popular sites such as the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens, will only be accessible to certain kinds of vehicles.
Buses, taxes, emergency services, people with reduced mobility and people who live or work within the area are the only ones allowed to drive through those areas (as well as so-called ‘destination traffic’, which includes being in the area for activities such as medical appointments or shopping).
The zone will be enforced by online declarations, such as proof of residence, but you won’t get caught out immediately – there’s a grace period in place to get everyone used to the rules.
While critics have said this doesn’t eliminate but instead moves traffic to other areas, Paris City Hall is expecting a drop in traffic by about 30 percent, which will reduce noise pollution and improve the area’s air quality.
The plan has been a long time coming, with the proposal initially announced back in May 2021. The new traffic-free zones follow news that the Pont d’léna will remain pedestrianised after the Olympics. In other words, Paris could feel a lot less stuffy quite soon.
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