Paris finds itself shaken by lively debates concerning urban mobility. What changes will be applied to the use of RATP services and the ring road during the event?
Two major measures are currently controversial in our beautiful capital: in the run-up to the 2024 Olympics (for which online ticketing opened on 1er December), some actors want to increase public transport prices during the period and, at the same time, reduce the maximum speed of vehicles on the ring road. Elements which complicate the situation even more when we know that it is added to the price abuses of hotel or apartment rentals during the event. Subjects entirely capable of calling into question the relevance of decision-making authorities and priorities in terms of urban policies.
Speed on the ring road, a classic conflict
Anne Hidalgo was in favor of a drastic reduction in the speed of vehicle transit on this gigantic road, reducing it from 70 km/h to 50 km/h. A position that Emmanuel Grégoire, the first deputy at the Town Hall, also held, explaining that the mayor “ may, within the framework of its police powers, reduce speed on the grounds of safety or the environment “. A possibility which is based on a “ interpretation of the 2019 law » and a desire to reduce noise and pollution caused by traffic.
We might as well say it immediately, these declarations were not unanimous among the opposition. Clément Beaune, Minister of Transport integrated into the LREM executive office, and totally disagrees with these measures. He declared, speaking to France Info: “ I think it’s not a good idea in the short term to have this speed limit “. A position that he completed by adding: “ at the end of 2024, we will not make the decision, we will not [la]we will not validate.” A position that could not be clearer. The ring road is a route used by 1.2 million cars every day, and any measure concerning it requires approval from the state.
Ever more expensive transport tickets
It is now the turn of the Paris town hall to be outraged; Valérie Pécresse (president of the Ile-de-France region) wants to increase public transport prices during the Olympics. By increasing it to 4 euros, its initial price would be almost doubled. Two deputies of Anne Hidalgo, Pierre Rabadan and Emmanuel Grégoire, wrote a letter addressed to Ms. Pécresse. They denounce ” an additional blow for Parisians and Ile-de-France residents, which will be taken from the wallet in this period of inflation where every euro counts”.
Their position is completely different, and they plead for maintaining the usual prices and even establishing “ free public transport for Parisian volunteers”. For them, the measure is also a serious threat against precarious workers, who will come to work on the smooth running of the event.
What could be better than an edition of the Olympic Games in the French capital to highlight the tensions between national and local authorities? Urban governance in such a context is a real balancing act and no one yet knows who will have the last word in this story.
Source : The world, The world
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