Traffic ban plan for Paris

The city of Paris is planning to ban all traffic apart from residents’ cars from its four central arondissements, in an effort to cut journeys by 75 per cent over seven years. According to The Guardian, the central zone on the banks of the river Seine will be closed except for local traffic and essential journeys, as well as “commercial and public service” vehicles. Phase one of the project, which would reduce the speed limit in the central zone to 30kmh and narrow several major roads, could be under way within months, the newspaper reports. By phase three, an area bordered by the Seine, Place de la Concorde, the Opera, Republique and Bastille would be closed to non-residential traffic. Opinions appear to be divided over the proposed scheme, with some residents drawing attention to the environmental benefits and others predicting that such a move would create a “dead city”. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd