Parisians say yes to "garden streets," but with participation at its lowest

Nearly 66% of Parisians who turned out to vote in the 218 polling stations voted "in favor" of greening and pedestrianizing 500 new streets, according to the results of the vote announced by the city hall.

But barely 56.500 people, out of 1,391 million registered voters, took part in the vote, which was open for the first time to those aged 16 and over. This represents a turnout of 4,06%, lower than previous votes on tripling the SUV parking fee in 2024 (5,68%), and the ban on self-service electric scooters, a year earlier (7,46%).

The "for" vote won in 14 of the 17 arrondissements (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements merged into one, Paris Centre). The 7th, 8th, and 16th arrondissements, held by the right, voted against.

"This vote reinforces our commitment to continue sharing public space for pedestrians and to greening Paris for an ever-greener city," Christophe Najdovski, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of green spaces, told AFP.

The 500 new streets will be added to the 300 similar roads that have been created since the start of the second term of Socialist (left) mayor Anne Hidalgo in 2020.

"Play the game"

Starting in April, consultations will begin in each borough to identify eligible roads—between five and eight per neighborhood. Implementation is expected within three to four years, with an average cost estimated at €5 per street.

"I hope that all the district mayors will play by the popular will expressed this evening," commented Christophe Najdovski.

The low turnout sparked an outcry among the opposition, which is skeptical of these democratic exercises undertaken by the mayor since 2020, with an average price tag of 400.000 euros.

"Parisians did not want to be associated with a communication campaign by the city of Paris," Nelly Garnier of Rachida Dati's right-wing group Changer Paris told AFP.

The Modem and Independents group (centre) condemned in a press release "a scathing disavowal of a consultation that was decided in advance".

"When we don't give ourselves the means to interest Parisians in the future of their city, we shouldn't be surprised by low turnout," laments Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons, cendre doit), who co-leads Union capitale, the leading opposition group.

10% less parking

But for Marc Remaggi, a 37-year-old teacher who came to cast his ballot early this morning at the 18th arrondissement town hall, voting remains important. "It's essential to prepare the city for tomorrow's climate and to make Paris a more pleasant place," he said.

Sarah, 37, who works in a local pottery workshop, agrees. "We live right next to a street with schools," where local residents have "reclaimed the public space" with a table, a place "where we go down for a snack" with the children.

The creation of 500 new "garden streets" will lead to the elimination of 10% of Parisian surface parking, or 10.000 spaces, which is less of a consensus.

This reduction is already taking place in certain neighborhoods, such as Montmartre, where the creation of a pedestrian area has raised eyebrows among local residents. Some fear that the project will "kill accessibility" to this steeply sloping site, according to Anne Renaudie, president of the Vivre à Montmartre association, which has filed a legal appeal against the work.

Jean-Pierre Briol, a retired accountant who came to vote in a gymnasium in the 19th arrondissement, is equally annoyed: "There are blocked streets on all sides, two-way streets that are now one-way... Everything is becoming very difficult."

"The project is not suited to the economic life of Paris. It's good to think about the environment, but people need to work," emphasizes Daniel, a retiree who prefers not to use his surname.