Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., “the whole city will be reserved for non-polluting traffic”, except on the ring road.
The French capital proclaims it: this Sunday, “Paris breathes without a car“a whole part of the day, by prohibiting motorized vehicles within the walls, in order to take advantage of”a quieter, livelier and more breathable city“, according to the town hall, which has been organizing this operation since 2015. Except on the ring road, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., “the whole city will be reserved for non-polluting traffic, bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, pedestrians and users of public transport“, she explains in a press release.
Two-wheelers and electric vehicles are affected by the ban. Offenders are liable to a fine of 135 euros. The only exceptions are emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and VTCs, with a speed limit of 20 km/h in certain areas, and Parisians returning from the weekend, on proof of address.
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In 2021, on the day of the same operation, nitrogen dioxide concentrations had been “nearly 20% less than on a usual Sunday“, according to the air quality observatory in the Paris region Airparif. To facilitate travel, while many places in Paris will be open to visitors for Heritage Days, seven partner car parks will offer “a single price of 15 euros all day» and 45 minutes will be offered to use Vélib self-service bicycles.
Place de la Concorde, in the center of the capital, participatory bicycle repair workshops will be organized and an RATP stand will aim to “make cyclists aware of the risks and dangers of the road in an urban environment“. A musical parade by bike, tandem or tricycle will set off from Pantin to reach the Place de la Concorde, while a skateboard ride will leave from the Trocadéro, in the west of Paris.
This day is part of the proactive policy of reducing the place of the car of the socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo, re-elected in 2020. Paris has notably reserved several major axes for cyclists and pedestrians, closed to traffic certain streets every Sunday or one Sunday per month (perimeters “Paris Breathe”) and made parking chargeable for thermal engine two-wheelers since September 1.
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