In Paris, the municipal battle is intensifying over pedestrian protection.

The word "appeasement" comes up in all the programs while security remains a sensitive subject: in 2024, 433 people were killed or seriously injured in Paris, mainly by motor vehicles.

Among them was the young cyclist Paul Varry, crushed a year ago by an SUV after an altercation on a cycle path. His death caused a profound shock.

The socialist Emmanuel Grégoire was the first to draw his weapon, defending on Saturday in the daily newspaper Ouest-France a "peaceful coexistence between pedestrians, cyclists, bus users and motorists".

After initial proposals to create 1.000 additional pedestrian streets and open the metro 24/24, the socialist candidate wants to create ten express bus lanes on the ten busiest lines in the capital.

"It is an essential mode of transport and the only network that is 100% accessible for people with reduced mobility," emphasizes the MP for Paris, who also wants to pedestrianize new sections of the banks of the Seine to connect the west to the east of the capital.

On the right, Rachida Dati, long accused by her opponents of being the car candidate, surprised everyone by promising to "protect the place of the pedestrian" and by giving up on bringing cars back onto the riverside roads.

"Pedestrians have been largely forgotten in Hidalgo's administrations," she explained to La Tribune Dimanche, referring to the "widespread chaos" she believes reigns in the streets of Paris. She, too, promised a "calmer Paris."

While it will not reduce the space for cycling "on the scale of all of Paris", it nevertheless emphasizes that cyclists "should not ride on sidewalks or run red lights".

In concrete terms, the mayor of the 7th arrondissement is proposing a "comprehensive mobility plan", "cross-traffic routes dedicated to pedestrians", and a "large urban heritage park" on the banks, which will be landscaped with vegetation.

However, she proposes to experiment with the return of Parisian motorists to the city center on Rue de Rivoli for "local access", particularly for businesses, a proposal that causes outrage on the left.

As for the ring road, she recommends sound-absorbing asphalt to reduce noise pollution and indicates that she wants to eventually cover it, without specifying whether she will reverse the recent 50 km/h speed limit.

"Uncivil behavior"

Following suit, Horizons candidate for mayor of Paris Pierre-Yves Bournazel, supported by Renaissance, announced on Sunday his intention to "put an end to the chaos" in the streets of Paris in order to "give Paris back to the pedestrians (...) relegated to the background".

He sees himself as the man of the middle ground "in contrast to the all-bike approach of the outgoing team and the all-car approach defended by Ms. Dati".

He wants to create "new pedestrian districts", with more municipal police officers to penalize users who "forget the pedestrian", "deploy video ticketing" and "impose registration of +fatbikes+", cycles with ultra-wide tires.

On the left, the Green candidate David Belliard, also deputy for Transport, acknowledges the "behaviors which can be uncivil and very annoying of cyclists", but also emphasizes that "what puts me in danger on the street is the cars".

He promises a "100% pedestrian" Paris, with an additional 100 hectares of pedestrianized land, including the Place de la République, while also strengthening bus lanes.

"This does not mean that there will be no more cars, it means that everyone can walk safely in the city," he explained to AFP, wishing for a "truly pedestrian-friendly" city.

However, he also proposes the creation of a "municipal road incivility police" which will be able to crack down on "uncivil behavior by cyclists, but also by motorists".

For his part, the communist candidate Ian Brossat proposes extending free transport to those under 18, banning large SUVs and a project for XXL pedestrian walkways on the riverbanks to calm the public space, from the 16th to the Bercy park (12th).