Voters in Paris Opt for Greener Streets Over Car Parking Spaces
Paris citizens advocate for closing about 500 vehicle-accessible streets
In a city where most residents prefer to walk for short trips and dislike car-induced noise and dirt, the preference for more greenery has won. The Parisians have voiced their desire to close 500 streets to cars in a recent vote, resulting in potentially losing over 10,000 parking spaces. Despite the majority approval, only a minority of voters participated.
So, what's next for the City of Lights? Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, has set the plan's implementation timeline at three years—but on one condition. Each of the 20 districts will be deciding independently the streets that will become pedestrian zones, with an estimated 25 such streets in each district.
A Win for Cleaner Air and Adapting to Climate Change
Paris city hall presented this citizen-led decision as a fight against noise pollution, dirt, and adjusting to climate change. They pride themselves on setting a model for other cities, having already achieved a 50% reduction in car traffic since 2002. Now, over 220 of the city's 6,000 streets are car-free, especially near schools and under a 30 km/h speed limit in many areas.
Potential Roadblocks Ahead
However, not everyone is behind this car-free initiative. In three of the city's districts, residents voted against it. The conservative opposition raised concerns that the closure of streets could hamper traders and even emergency services, while pointing fingers at the city government for exaggerated propaganda and tricking the citizens.
With elections scheduled for next year in Paris, there's uncertainty about whether the new administration will continue the project. Mayor Hidalgo contends that the vote signifies the Parisians' uniform demand for more greenery.
European Cities Embracing the Traffic Transformation
While many German cities look up to Paris for inspiration, creating car-free zones through a citizen vote may not be feasible in Germany. As Helmut Dedy, managing director of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities explains, streets can't be closed to traffic solely based on public opinion. Rather, a process called de-dedication must be followed, considering the interests of all street users, including shopkeepers.
Still, Dedy acknowledges that closing streets to motorized traffic can contribute to a balanced traffic flow if it fits the local traffic concept. However, he emphasizes the need for improved public transportation to reduce car reliance, a challenge due to cities' financial difficulties. In Germany, additional financial support from federal and state governments is essential for addressing this issue.
Source: ntv.de, ino/dpa
Additional Insights:
- Vote Turnout Details: Of the nearly 1.4 million registered voters, the vote attracted only around 4%, with two-thirds of those voting in favor of the plan.
- Financial Implications: The project associated with closing 500 streets to cars entails significant costs, a concern that has been voiced by the conservative opposition and critics.
- Environmental and Climate Change Goals: The vote in Paris aims to address air quality issues and adapt to climate change by transforming streets into pedestrian zones and adding greenery.
- Local Consultations: Consultations between city officials and the 20 districts will determine the specific streets that will become pedestrian zones. Each district is estimated to have around 25 such streets transformed over the three-year implementation period.
- Equity Concerns: Critics have raised concerns about potential equity issues, arguing that the benefits could be concentrated in wealthier areas and exacerbate urban-suburban divides. There are also reservations regarding the accessibility and impact on public transportation for residents in outer neighborhoods or suburbs with less access to alternative modes of transport.
- The Parisians' demand for more greenery, demonstrated by a recent vote to close 500 streets to cars, has gained support from the government, with Mayor Anne Hidalgo planning the implementation over a three-year period.
- There are concerns about potential roadblocks to the implementation of the green initiative, as some districts have voted against it, and the conservative opposition has raised questions about its impact on traders and emergency services.
- As the project entails significant costs and aims to address air quality issues and adapt to climate change by turning streets into pedestrian zones, there may be financial implications and equity concerns to consider during the local consultations between city officials and the 20 districts.
