The Paris ring road limited to 50 km/h and with a “carpool” lane after the Olympics

This new revolution for the Paris ring road could be effective "a few weeks after the Olympics", said David Belliard, Anne Hidalgo's deputy in charge of Transport, at a press conference on Thursday.

The ring road, one of the main urban axes in Europe, is used every day by 1,2 million vehicles, the majority from Ile-de-France, and transporting 80% of motorists alone in their car.

This measure criticized, in particular by the Ile-de-France right, aims to reduce pollution and noise pollution on this 35-kilometer axis, particularly at night and for the 500.000 people who live nearby.

“The ring road is no longer intended to be an urban highway”, but an “urban boulevard”, underlined Mr. Belliard. The maximum authorized speed on the ring road, a 35-kilometer road belt surrounding the capital since 1973, had already increased from 90 km/h to 80 in 1993, then to 70 in 2014.

The lane reserved for carpooling, launched during the Olympic Games, would be perpetuated in the north of Paris, then in the south (Porte de Sèvres-Bercy) in a second phase.

The left lane of the ring road would thus be reserved for vehicles carrying two or more people during peak traffic periods, Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 16:00 p.m. to 20:00 p.m. It can also be activated in the event of an accident or traffic jams.

Illuminated diamonds indicating channel activation are being tested. Offenders will be fined via video cameras, starting during the Olympics.

This route can also be used by public transport, taxis, VTCs (charged only), people with disabilities and of course emergency vehicles.

Inter-line traffic for two-wheelers, strongly requested by biker associations, will be authorized.

Does the town hall risk creating new traffic jams with these new limitations, as its detractors fear?

“We want to make the same number of trips, but with fewer cars,” replied David Belliard. However, carpooling must be developed, which still remains "too marginal", he stressed.

To perpetuate the left lane, the Paris town hall, however, requires the agreement of the prefect of Paris for the perpetuation of the carpool lane.

“I have no doubt that the government is committed to us, that the health of our fellow citizens is more important than a form of fascination with cars,” said David Belliard.