Paris to Become Cyclists/Walkers Oaisis?
 

The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, plans to make the heart of his city effectively car free. The first phase of the plans involves cutting the speed limit in Paris to 20mph and it is expected that the entire project will result in a 75% reduction in traffic by 2012. Full story here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...437774,00.html

I lived in Paris in 1999 and experienced the day of car-free Paris. It was nice--tons of cyclists of all different types and bikes. The air was cleaner and the city was QUIET! Parisian cagers love to toot their horns at every opportunity. I'll follow the the Mayor's plans to see how it turns out.

I did not have a car when I lived there, but I did drive a rental once. It was a bit exhilerating, but I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis. Not until I drove in Naples, Italy did I yearn for the calm traffic of Paris.

Why is Europe so far ahead of us?....

Your avatar looks like my cousin BlackSatin....

Good question about Europe. Can you imagine a large American city even dreaming of trying this? My avatar--and my name--are in honor of an old friend, one who spent many long years in my company before recently heading off to feline heaven.

I wonder if the fact that Paris is trying to get the Olympics in 2012 has anything to do with it???

Shopkeepers always decry pedestrianisation/traffic calming measures....but gentrification and a stronger business climate invariably results.

I don't see the connection. Traffic congestion and air pollution have been major problems in Paris for many years. Now if they can just convince people to pick up after their dogs...that might help the Olympic effort.

The dates sorta co-incided... :D

But yes, I'd love to see this in ALL cities all over the world.
Build good bike parking spaces with proper bars to lock your bike to (or even small lockable bike garages!) and expand public transport to have small buses all over the city at frequent intervals.

I've never been to Paris, but I've been to London seven years ago.
That place could do without most of those smoking metal monsters...

It'll make parking easier during the Olympics, if Paris were to host the Olympics. :)