Thirty new pedestrian streets, hundreds of additional parking spaces and 50 kilometers of dedicated bicycle lanes. Anne Hidalgo intends to reduce the place of the car, the use of which was drastically reduced in the capital during the confinement.
"It is out of the question that we allow ourselves to be invaded by vehicles," warns the socialist councilor in the columns of the Parisian, after seven weeks of confinement in an attempt to curb the epidemic of coronavirus.
"We are going to double the number of places in relay parking lots and in our parking lots at the gates of Paris, which will be three times more numerous," said Anne Hidalgo. "These 2,000 places in around thirty parks will be free for Navigo pass holders. Discussions are underway to open part of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles, which would bring the offer to 3,000 places available. "
At the same time, provisional cycle paths will be created along the busiest metro lines (1, 4 and 13) and 50 kilometers of lanes usually reserved for cars will be devoted to bicycles, notably rue de Rivoli, the Porte d 'Orleans, boulevard Saint-Michel, the Etoile tunnel and Porte Maillot.
The "approaches to stations and major hubs like Les Halles" will also be pedestrianized in order to "avoid congestion", said Anne Hidalgo, just like "about thirty new streets, especially around schools," to avoid regrouping " .
If certain adjustments prove "relevant", the mayor of Paris believes that "there is no reason that they should be withdrawn afterwards". Regarding the parks and gardens of the capital, closed since March 16, Anne Hidalgo wishes that they could be places for "walking and breathing" and proposed their reopening "with a counting system".
With AFP
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