Paris town hall announced at the end of November that the maximum speed of the ring road would drop from 70 to 50 km/h in September 2024. A project that Clément Beaune, Minister of Transport, has just rejected without further ado.
“ What a shame, this social contempt! Lowering the maximum speed on the ring road means less noise and less pollution ”, got carried away the deputy mayor of Paris, David Belliard, upon discovering the intervention of the Minister of Transport on France Info this December 7. Clément Beaune has just confirmed live that the decision to lower the speed on the ring road had to go through validation by the executive, and did not depend solely on the decision of Paris City Hall. He therefore clarified that the project would not have the approval of the government.
Speed on the Paris ring road therefore becomes, above all, a political subject which will push the two camps into a standoff over the coming months.
“You’re going to drive people crazy.”
Paris City Hall wants two big changes on the Paris ring road in 2024:
- A lane reserved for carpooling and to public transportwhich must appear with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, before being made permanent.
- A lowering of the maximum speed from 70 to 50 km/h after the Olympics.
The first measure has already raised eyebrows, with a ring road regularly congested throughout the day. By removing a lane of traffic, this will inevitably amplify the phenomenon, while putting strain on the nerves of motorists.
The lowering of the authorized speed by 20 km/h appears to be the straw that could break the camel’s back. It is in this sense that the Minister calls on Paris City Hall to review its position: “ If you do the reserved lane and the ring road at 50 km/h at the same time, you will drive people crazy. »
Even if the average speed recorded on the ring road is well below the authorized 70 km/h, motorists do not want to be forced to drive at 50 km/h when it is smooth. The automatic radars would however be delighted with the renewed flash.
A lack of consultation
The Minister of Transport confirms this: “ The ring road is managed by the city of Paris, but three quarters of it is used by Ile-de-France residents and commuters. The least we can do is decide with the region, with the departments. »
What the Paris City Hall is criticized for, once again, is making decisions without consulting the people concerned, other than Parisian elected officials. The Region, headed by Valérie Pécresse, is notably kept away from this type of decision.
Parisian elected officials respond transparently that motorists are not at the heart of their approach. All this is supposed to serve to ensure more breathable air for Parisian residents living near the ring road.
Can the government really oppose this reduction in speed?
The subject is more sensitive than it seems, as highlighted in an article published on France Info on December 7. Management of the ring road is the responsibility of the capital, which is what Parisian elected officials are defending. Except that due to its status as an essential axis for security, the police prefect must be consulted. This is how the government retains decision-making power over what happens.
By using climate issues as justification for lowering the speed, it is possible that Paris City Hall has a joker in its game. The match is likely to be lively in the coming months.
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