Paris (AFP)

Now essential in the streets of Paris, the bicycle has also become so in the campaign of the main candidates for the Town Hall, who compete for proactive proposals for the next municipal mandate.

Six of them tried to convince Wednesday evening the associations Paris in Saddle and Better to Move on Bicycle, which had invited them to a "big oral".

With the exception of Rachida Dati (LR) who first wants to organize a concertation, all are committed to the flagship proposals of the two associations: the creation of a "Vélopolitain" - a network of major axes of cycle paths which would link the city, the establishment of "peaceful neighborhoods" where car transit traffic would be prohibited and streets reserved for bicycles, or the massive development of bicycle parking offers.

ANNE HIDALGO (PS):

The outgoing mayor promises to make all the streets of Paris cyclable by 2024, and plans to invest 350 million euros (including 250 million euros for the Vélopolitain).

It wants to "recover space on cars" and transform 60,000 parking spaces (out of 140,000 in total) to widen the roadways, "make two-way cycle paths", and create 100,000 bicycle parking spaces.

Among his other projects: better separating cycle tracks and bus lanes, identifying bicycle lanes "with different colors", developing school learning of cycling, and a "street code subject to concertation by Parisians".

Vélib: develop other specific bike rental systems (cargo bike, bike for the disabled, etc.).

RACHIDA DATI (LR)

The candidate, who was represented by her campaign director Nelly Garnier, wants to launch over the first six months of her mandate "a big consultation" with experts, before submitting her mobility plan to Parisians.

"Our role is to be the manager of public space", to "move towards cleaner mobility, but not necessarily against the car". The priority "is fluidity and order," said Ms. Garnier.

An armed municipal police force will have to fight against everyday delinquency (like bicycle theft), and "regulate public space", and in particular the practice of scooters.

Vélib: "We will have to see if the offer is still expected".

BENJAMIN GRIVEAUX (LREM):

The candidate LREM wants "less cars" to fight against pollution.

He wants to make the "Vélopolitain" by starting with the cycle lanes which can unclog saturated metro lines, like line 13.

It proposes improving safety at intersections (painting cycle paths, etc.), "separating the flows" between bus and bicycle, prohibiting tourist buses in Paris, introducing a bonus for "the transition to thermal two-wheelers", create 100,000 bicycle parking spaces, develop a municipal "traffic police" and "engrave bikes for free", "pass the bicycle license to young Parisians".

DAVID BELLIARD (EELV):

The environmental candidate wants to make Paris "a city focused on pedestrians and bikes", and "reduce the traffic of cars and two-wheeled motor vehicles".

Among its priorities, "secure existing bicycle spaces", but also "make wider bicycle paths in all streets", "the transformation of half of car parking spaces into bicycle paths", bicycle learning courses in primary school, "a brigade of security and public tranquility".

Vélib: "Ask the question of remunicipalisation".

CEDRIC VILLANI (ex-LREM):

The candidate defends "cycle paths that go to the small and the great crown", the transformation of the small belt into a bypass, an investment of 400 million euros in cycling (including 250 for the Vélopolitain), transformation of 60,000 car parking spaces for bicycles, and a design competition for "vélobox", secure bicycle shelters.

Vélib: "free for the first two hours" and "upgrading the quality of service".

DANIELLE SIMONNET (LFI):

The candidate claims "a hierarchy: first we must defend pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, taxis, and then only the car".

She wishes to "create a real municipal bicycle service", to develop the practice of cycling "in schools, leisure centers, summer camps".

It offers to offer a bicycle to all 16 year olds, which will cost "4 million euros",

Vélib: "municipalisation" and "gratuitousness", assuming to want to "borrow" for that.

© 2020 AFP