The minister delegate for transport made his position known Saturday in an interview with Parigo, a program of France 3, saying he was "open". "The reserved lanes, they will have to be developed. Simply, there is a problem, it is that there has been no impact study, "added the minister asked about this project.

The town hall wants to reserve a lane of the ring road for carpooling, taxis and public transport after the 2024 Olympic Games, in order to reduce pollution.

"If it's to make more congestion, it's not so ecological. If it makes carpooling and bus transport and other uses more fluid, I think it's positive and we have to look at it. But a prior impact study is needed," the minister explained.

This project arouses the opposition of the Ile-de-France region led by Valérie Pécresse (LR). It was also overwhelmingly rejected during a public consultation conducted online by the town hall from April 17 to May 28. It has recorded a little more than 6,500 contributions, including "around 80-85%" of negative opinions, acknowledged Tuesday the deputy to Mobility and Roads David Belliard, the municipality announcing then that it would "amend" its project by mid-July.

Intended to reduce pollution, this reserved lane must be activated on the left lane in the morning and evening, "during the week and / or during weekends", according to the departure proposal of the town hall. The town hall considers carpooling any vehicle carrying at least two people, including the driver.

City Hall is also considering lowering the speed limit on the ring road from 70 to 50 km/h, permanently or only when the dedicated lane is active.

The third point of tension is the list of vehicles authorized to circulate there.

Used every day by a million vehicles, the ring road "has less than 20% of Parisian users and 40% of trips are from suburb to suburb," the region regularly advances.

© 2023 AFP