by Jessica Reed
Paris' mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, has been criticized in the past for implementing extravagant projects in the heart of the capital (I am thinking about Paris Plage (BBC), an initiative which involves tons of sand and a fewpalm trees thrown along the Seine, with a couple of towels and a ban (Telegraph) on both topless sunbathing and thong-wearing).
His new annoucement is subsantially more interesting (and courageous): he recently unveiled his plans to cut traffic in the capital by 40% in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases emmissions. From Streetsblog:
The plan includes the extension of the recently terminated tramway all the way to the Porte d'Asnières in the north-west of the city by 2013. The addition of "civilised thoroughfares" will give priority to buses and bicycles, while the troubled line 13 will see further trains and a new signal system.
Transport will be free for those living under the poverty threshold, while the banks of the Seine will become fully pedestrianised. Indeed, a number of areas may become pedestrianised throughout the city, while speed limits will be reduced in areas such as Beaubourg.
Now that's what I'm talking about.
As for talks about a Parisian congestion charge, they are usually met with much skeptisicm (many politicians find the principle discriminatory) but are slowly making their way through a possible shift of mentalities (Le Monde, in french).
And about cheaper tube and buses tickets, which use I suppose we want to encourage? Maybe Ken could consider free transport for Londonians living under the poverty threshold as well. The current 4 pounds for a single underground ticket (that's 8 dollars, or 6 euros) is often met with raised eyebrows from my French broke-and-students friends visiting our fair city.
