Paris (AFP)
A tram to connect the stations, the development of pedestrian zones, and bike paths at the expense of parking spaces: the candidate of EELV for the mayor of Paris David Belliard presented Tuesday his plan to "free" the capital of the car .
"The capital is built around the all-car individual, 50% of its area is dedicated to it while it represents only 13% of trips," said the ecologist during a press conference at the House of the bike to Paris, near Bastille.
And the one who is a member of the outgoing majority of Anne Hidalgo (PS) but presents an autonomous candidacy next March insists that "we must make choices": the ecologists want "safe bike lanes in all the streets of Paris there where it's possible ", which involves" taking off half of the parking spaces "for cars.
More broadly, David Belliard wants to "promote non-polluting modes of travel", but, noticing the "saturation" of the metro, proposes the deployment of a tram linking the stations of Montparnasse, Austerlitz, Lyon, the East and North.
This represents 10 km of line on "boulevard rights of way" for an estimated cost of 400 or 500 million euros, say environmentalists. Asked about the already important scope of work in the capital, Mr. Belliard said: "The exasperation is linked to poor planning, with work being done everywhere at the same time."
"We must assume to transform, to reconfigure the public space," he added, saying not to fear the impact of such a proposal on the electorate. The last poll, in mid-September, was disappointing for environmentalists in view of their ambitions (13%, far from the 24% of Anne Hidalgo).
Before the presentation of a more global project from January, David Belliard also wants free transportation for under 26, multiply by 10 the number of bicycle hoops, support the installation of solidarity repair shops , pedestrianize 300 approaches to school, or set up paid parking for two motorized wheels.
It intends to bring a "pact" to the metropolitan level "to favor intermodality", such as local bus lines connected to RER stations.
Ecologists, on the other hand, do not propose an urban toll, as in London for example: "We are not here to punish people but to create alternatives," explained the head of the list in the 14th arrondissement, Florentin Letissier.
© 2019 AFP