By the beginning of 2024, the center of Paris will be transformed into a limited traffic zone, eliminating an estimated half of daily car journeys. The plan, already long in the works for the French capital, was made official last week with an announcement by Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire and Transit Commissioner David Belliard.

The area concerned will be the first four arrondissements of Paris and parts of the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements, between Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Seine. Place de la Concorde will bound the area to the west, the Grands Boulevards to the north, Place de la Bastille to the east, and Boulevard Saint Germain to the south. Motorists planning to park will still be allowed in the zone, while those using the wide Parisian boulevards only as a through lane will be obliged to pay a fine. In addition, public transport vehicles, residents of the area, hotel guests, and people with disabilities would not face any restrictions.

The plan’s implementation actually represents a slowdown of the car-calming policies envisaged in the ambitious plan of the socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo, who is also a candidate for the next presidential elections. The zone was initially due to start this year but was postponed so that the city could carry out a thorough public consultation.

Opening image: Paris areal view. photo Anthony Tan via Unsplash