A major European city has banned through traffic from parts of its historic centre in a bid to cut pollution and congestion
Paris will see a new ban that aims to put restrictions on vehicles and other motorised cars including motorbikes, that o will no longer be able to enter the city’s first, second, third and fourth districts or arrondissements unless they have business there.
Paris’ city police chief did reassure road users, however, that this new rule will only be enforced with a light touch.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo introduced the ban on through traffic from its historic city centre.
Hidalgo also hopes this ban will help tackle car traffic in favour of less polluting means of transport such as bicycles.
An area of 2.1 square miles in Paris will introduce this ban includes the Louvre museum, the Tuileries gardens, the Place Vendome and the historic Marais neighbourhood including a host of cultural venues and shopping areas.
Paris and many other leading European countries have seen major changes over the past decade to help reduce the amount of vehicles on the road.
Other European cities including Milan, Rome and Madrid have also taken similar measures to reduce cars on the road as the Paris mayor’s office said its own traffic limitation scheme was “one of the most ambitious” on the continent.
These new guidelines will impact the through-traffic rules which require drivers to carry proof that they have a reason for being there.
These rules will not affect those who live or work in the area who will have free access which also extends to taxis, buses, emergency services and disabled drivers.
Other valid reasons for stopping in these populated Paris areas include attending a doctor’s visit or those making deliveries with theatre or cinema outings seen as acceptable reasons to drive into the area.
Paris has turned several popular areas that were previously dominated by cars over to pedestrians and cyclists which includes areas on the banks of the river Seine.
These new rules will help to improve noise and air pollution, particularly for the 110,000 residents of the four districts.
Officials believe this ban could potentially see car traffic cut by a third including major thoroughfares including Avenue de l’Opera, which runs from the old opera house to the Palais Royal.
Aurelien Veron, spokesman for the Changer Paris (Change Paris) opposition group in the Paris municipal council, said: “It’s going to be an almighty mess,” as he said the changes would likely affect almost everyone who is driving through Paris.
Others were also less enthused by the new rule with regional president of France’s national clothes and manufacturing association, Patric Aboukrat stating: “If city hall wants to kill local shops this is the way to do it.”
Paris police chief, Laurent Nunez, spoke to Le Parisien newspaper and promised these new measures would have “as few constraints as possible” for motorists and would include similar online registration to enforce traffic restrictions.
The pedestrianisation of the Pont d’Iéna temporarily closed during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to help facilitate tourist access to the Eiffel Tower which has still not reopened.
The Iena bridge near the Eiffel Tower has also not reopened to traffic since the Olympics which had been pedestrianised to protect pedestrians and make the crossing more pleasant.
The busiest parts of Place de la Concorde will also undergo changes.
Hidalgo had previously promised a transit ban during her 2020 re-election campaign for mayor, however, these implementations had been postponed several times.
