Paris is set to take a massive step towards phasing out vehicles tomorrow when it restricts cars, motorbikes, mopeds, vans and lorries from entering a large portion of the French capital.
The new "Zone à trafic limité" (ZTL) will launch on Monday, November 4, 2024, and cover around five square kilometres in a bid to reduce traffic, improve air quality and encourage more sustainable forms of transport.
The ZTL will encompass the first four arrondissements, which are home to around 100,000 residents and an estimated 11,000 businesses.
City officials estimate that up to 500,000 vehicles enter the area daily, with nearly half being unnecessary transit traffic.
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While the ban will primarily affect private vehicles, numerous exceptions have been put in place. Residents, workers, and those visiting for specific purposes such as shopping, medical appointments, or leisure activities will be exempt from the ban.
Emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, and ride-hailing services will also be allowed to enter the restricted zone. Deliveries and those with reduced mobility will maintain access as well.
Despite these exemptions, city officials expect a significant reduction in traffic. Deputy Mayor for the city centre, Ariel Weil, stated: "The ZTL is an important new step that will be gradually implemented starting with the educational phase.
"Its effects will combine with those of the traffic plan, with the dual aim of reducing traffic and making it more fluid."
Enforcement of the new rules will initially focus on education rather than penalties. For the first three to six months, drivers will receive warnings instead of fines.
The ban is part of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's ongoing efforts to reduce car use as City Hall data suggests that 70 per cent of current car journeys are made out of convenience rather than necessity.
The move follows similar schemes in Madrid and Rome, with hopes that through traffic will be slashed by 30 per cent on major roads like Avenue de l'Opéra.
Officials are considering a system of proof-of-residence and online declarations, similar to those used during Covid lockdowns and the Summer Olympic Games.
After the grace period, drivers flouting the rules could face a €135 or £113 fine, although it is unclear how drivers will prove their legitimate reasons for being in the affected areas.
The ban is part of a broader strategy to boost walking and cycling in Paris. Currently, only 4.3 per cent of journeys in Paris are made by car, with 53.5 per cent on foot, 30 per cent by public transport, and 11.2 per cent by bike.
David Belliard, Green deputy mayor in charge of transport and public spaces, stated: "50 per cent of public space is occupied by private cars, which are used mostly by the richest, and mostly by men.
"So if we give the space to walking, biking, and public transit, you give back public space to the categories of people who today are deprived."
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The ZTL is expected to significantly reduce noise and pollution in the city centre, improving the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
While the current focus is on implementing the vehicle ban, the French Government is also considering the future of traffic with AI speed cameras, according to the draft budget.
They could identify drivers using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts, or driving too close to other vehicles, similar to ones already used across the UK.
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