Restricted traffic zone in the center of the city of Paris: “In the end, people will use other means of travel”

This is a bit of a change for drivers who are used to traveling through the center of Paris. The restricted traffic zone (ZTL) comes into effect from this Monday in the first four districts of the capital. 5.5 km² prohibited for motor vehicles “move”, that’s what those who are just passing by say, except for emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, people with reduced mobility, drivers who live or work there. Traffic “destination” it is also allowed, that is, those who have departure and arrival points in the region, for medical appointments, shopping, going to the cinema … a reduction in traffic “10 to 15%”. Machine, according to him, “very effective in combination with the changing effects of the traffic plan for the Center of Paris” until this area is no longer a “shortcut”.

But this new measure, which aims to limit very heavy traffic in this area as well as noise and air pollution, has been strongly criticized by the city’s right-wing opposition. In a press release, the group Change Pariswhich mainly brings together Republican elected officials, criticizing the system “zero ecological impact” and that encourages “Evicting Parisians for the benefit of tourists”. “Compliance with this ZTL will be heavily monitored and result in Kafkaesque bureaucratic restrictions for Parisians,” they send.

Losing customers for stores?

Some traders also fear that they will be affected by the conversion. With Figaro several of them asked. “It’s going to be a disaster. Most of my customers are tourists but at lunch time, I have a lot of employees who usually stop in the car. explains the bakery manager. A representative of the traders of the neighborhood located in the 4th arrondissement is even more generic: “If the city wants to kill local commerce, it can’t do it any better.” “The assassination game of original and unusual businesses that contribute to the soul of the Paris Center continues with the ideological ZTL”believes in X Aurélien Véron, elected to the council of Paris and spokesperson for the Paris Changer group.

However, according to experts on urban travel issues, these concerns are unfounded. According to Lucile Ramackers, an urban mobility consultant, “There have been several studies and counter-examples of transit traffic: in reality, people do not stop somewhere by chance. And finally, transit traffic represents a major concern for the operation and local residents. “ An opinion shared by Mathieu Chassignet, an engineer specializing in sustainable motion, who emphasizes thata recent study by the Parisian Urban Planning Workshop show that only 3% of customers who go to the Paris Center do so by car. “Ultimately with less through traffic, it will be more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists who will come more often to eat in this area,” he summarizes. Mathieu Chassignet says that other cities have implemented this system “despite initial rebellion” traders “They’ll realize they’re benefiting from it and then they’ll want it extended”. Ariel Weil remembers that the city hall made the decision not to walk in the center of Paris and that “Deliveries and customers will still be able to come to the site. We went even further with a complete exemption for traders and artisans. he specifies.

“Reduction in noise pollution and emissions” in Barcelona and London

The opposition also fears that traffic will explode in nearby areas. “Traffic delays could reach up to 40% on certain axes,” says Changer Paris, just moving pollution and worries to other neighborhoods. As a result of which the experts interviewed Salvation share, while enjoying it. “It can be complicated for a while. But then people get used to it and there is a system of traffic movement. We notice that there are simply fewer car trips after a while. For the cases of Barcelona and London, where this system has been implemented in certain places, we see a reduction in noise pollution and emissions. explains Lucile Ramackers. The same observation for Mathieu Chassignet: “There is definitely a slight increase in traffic. But it will be on boulevards that can be included. And we should not forget that part of the traffic disappears in this type of situation because people will eventually start using other modes of travel.”

Controlling vehicles that ignore the rules also raises questions. Judge “blurred” by the opposition, the city hall first wants them to be done randomly by city police officers before an automatic control system is established. “Italy is ahead of this. We can follow a license plate and figure out that the car didn’t stop to run an errand or go to a restaurant. It is very easy when you can estimate the distance covered and the time. explains Lucile Ramackers. Maybe Ariel Weil “very supportive” to video terminology using surveillance cameras, the system cannot yet be implemented, due to the lack of a legislative framework that allows it.