Coronapists will continue to develop in the capital.
During the interview she gave to the Parisian, Wednesday at the Town Hall, the mayor (PS) of Paris Anne Hidalgo announced that she intended to continue the deployment of these portions of tracks specially designed to encourage cycling since the deconfinement.
Of the 50 km of new tracks made permanent by the mayor, re-elected in June, "45 km have been completed to date," she says.
"And I have just given the green light to the creation of 7 new cycle paths of this type […], which will bring the total of coronapists to 60 km", adds Anne Hidalgo.
A link between Place de la République and Boulevard des Italiens
These seven new coronapistes will be distributed in different arrondissements: rue Marx-Dormoy (18th century), on the main boulevards between place de la République (10th) and boulevard des Italiens (9th), boulevard de l'Hôpital (13th), rue Linois (15th century), avenue d'Ivry (13th century), rue Claude-Bernard (Ve), and rue de la Grange-aux-Belles (10th).
On these axes, portions of lanes will therefore be developed to create secure cycle paths, materialized like all coronapists by yellow markings on the ground and plots or markers separating the cars which will have less room to circulate.
These developments, carried out in a hurry, are often criticized from an aesthetic point of view: the mayor of Paris is aware of this and affirms that "it is good [their] desire" to make these bicycle lanes prettier.
"Everything will not be done in a day, but, when the tracks are perpetuated, the yellow blocks will be removed, the cycle paths will be developed and made safe," she explains.
READ ALSO>
In Paris, Lyon, Marseille… coronapistes and extended terraces acclaimed
Adaptations will also be made on the rue de Rivoli, which remains closed to cars from the Place de la Bastille to the Place de la Concorde.
“In its portion along the Tuileries, we are working on doubling the lane reserved for buses, taxis and all authorized vehicles, particularly electric ones.
We are working in parallel to doubling the track dedicated to cyclists ”, indicates Anne Hidalgo.
During this interview, Anne Hidalgo also clarified that another “hard” cycle path, this one, which was planned as part of the initial bicycle plan, will soon be launched.
This is rue Lafayette (in its 10th arrondissement part).
Pedestrianization continues on its way, especially around schools
Finally, still in terms of traffic, Parisians will also see more and more pedestrianized streets.
“The developments near schools will continue.
The ultimate idea is that all Parisian schools can benefit from protected streets, either permanently or at the time of school re-entry or exit, ”says the mayor.
Paris Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
However, pedestrianization will not be limited to schools or to the city center of the capital.
Work on extending these pedestrian streets to the whole of the capital "began with the mayors of the arrondissement".
“I invite them to make proposals to me, especially in lower-income neighborhoods.
The consultation will start.
We will include it in the framework of the Parking and Travel Assises which will be launched by mid-October, ”announces Anne Hidalgo.
The city councilor, who also announces having initiated a reflection on the closure to thermal cars of the high quays of the Seine, right bank, wishes that all the work undertaken for these transformations "be done by portion".
There is no question, she assures, of seeing the palisades of construction sites flourish again.
“I admit that everything was not easy in the last term.
I learned the lessons.
"
An announcement rather favorably
On the Grands Boulevards this Friday, the first reactions to the mayor's intention to create a new coronapiste are rather enthusiastic.
Including this Parisian taxi driver: “I prefer cyclists to have a cycle path, without a track it's complicated.
Otherwise, they get in the middle of the road and that creates traffic jams or prevents us from moving forward.
We as motorists try to respect the lane, if they have theirs, they will also respect it ”.
Boulevard Poissonnière (IXe), Friday October 2.
Anne Hidalgo announces the creation of a coronapiste between the Place de la République and the Boulevard des Italiens, a very busy road.
LP / Margaux Boscagli
“The cycle paths, they are doing more and more.
It is irremediable, we are going more and more towards this kind of transport I believe ”, assures Hélène who travels by public transport because“ at my age, I no longer ride a bicycle ”.
"I don't take the bike but I think it's still good because I used to live on the Republic side and having already made the trip two or three times to the Grands Boulevards, it's very dangerous without cycle path ”, assures Marie for her part.
“But it could generate a lot of traffic or even more traffic jams.
It is still a lane that is very congested in general, if they reduce the lane, it could be worse.
"
Pierre, who pedals his bike every day on this axis, is there, "obviously, fully in favor".
“This boulevard is not pleasant at all.
There, I will join the bike path of Sébastopol precisely, I prefer to take the small roads than to go through here.
We have to change mentalities.
That does not mean that nothing should be done for motorists as well, perhaps the mayor is not doing enough for them at the same time, but we have to shake up habits a little.
"
VIDEO. Can Paris become a European cycling capital, like Copenhagen?