Green Space Over Cars: Parisians Have Spoken and They're Ready for Change
Parisians advocate for closing approximately 500 streets to vehicular traffic
Breaking News: Paris is heading towards greener avenues, as citizens vote for a car-free future. A substantial majority of Parisians want more parks and pedestrian zones than parking spaces. This change could lead to the elimination of 10,000 car parking spots in the city, causing a stir among drivers.
In the recent citizen survey, only 4% of the approximately 1.4 million registered voters participated. Despite the low participation, the project's implementation is on the table, as per Paris Mayor, Anne Hidalgo. To turn this vision into reality, it's expected to take three to four years. Each of the 20 districts could witness about 25 streets transformed into green pedestrian zones.
A Cleaner, Greener Paris: The Rising Trend
The Paris city hall shed light on the recent vote as a choice between reduced noise and air pollution and an adaptation to climate change. Most Parisians favour walking over using cars for short city trips. The preference for greenery stems from the desire to combat harmful emissions and adapt to the changing climate.
Since 2002, the car traffic in Paris has plummeted by nearly 50%. Despite the significant reduction, cars still grip over half of the city's public space. Paris has been tirelessly striving for a green transition in its mobility policies under Mayor Hidalgo, earning it praise as a model for numerous cities.
The Debate: Car-free Paris or Business as Usual?
Not everyone in Paris supports the idea of creating new car-free streets. A majority in three districts rejected the proposal. The conservative opposition cautioned that closing streets might jeopardize traders and even thwart emergency services. They also raised concerns about the financial implications, accusing the city government of manipulation through its communication campaign, promising "garden streets."
The upcoming Paris elections present an interesting twist. If the conservatives were to take over the city hall, there's uncertainty regarding their commitment to the car-free street project's continuation. Hidalgo, however, remains optimistic,interpreting the vote as a clear signal of Parisians' desire for a greener future.
Comparing Cities: From Paris to Berlin
While German cities take inspiration from Paris, a similar approach to closing streets through a public vote would not translate directly. In Germany, streets can't be closed to traffic by popular vote. Instead, "de-dedication" is employed, a process that takes into account the interests of all stakeholders, including shopkeepers [1].
Closing streets is one aspect of aiming for less traffic in urban areas, but it's crucial to have reliable public transport systems in place to make it a reality. The financial situation of many German cities is precarious, which may limit their capacity to invest in necessary infrastructure upgrades without substantial support from federal and state governments.
[1] - Road decommissioning (Streßenaufhebung) in the German context is the official process for closing streets, taking into account the interests of all stakeholders, including shopkeepers, and requiring legal procedures.
[2] - The urban planning office in Paris points out that cars still dominate public space, taking up more than half, despite a significant decrease in car traffic since 2002.
[3] - In April 2023 and February 2024, Paris will hold City-wide votes on banning rental e-scooters and increasing parking fees for heavy cars, respectively, with participation levels significantly lower in the past.
[4] - The conservative opposition questions the viability of closing streets due to potential restrictions on traders and emergency services, along with considerable costs. They allege that the city government's communication campaign has deceived citizens with false promises of "garden streets."
- Foreigners, as well as community members in Paris, have been warned about the upcoming implementation of the car-free streets project, which is favored by most Parisians for reduced pollution and adapting to changing climate.
- Some Parisian workers in specific districts are concerned about the potential closure of streets, fearing it might negatively affect their businesses and even hamper emergency services.
- The Parisian community could witness a transformation of at least 25 streets in each district into green pedestrian zones over the next three to four years, as part of the city's continuous efforts towards a greener mobility and urban landscape.
