Driving around Paris during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Broad topic.
Since the end of November and the presentation of the security system which will be deployed during the major sporting competition in the capital, Parisians have harbored concerns about their ability to move through the arteries of the City of Lights.
Even more so today, when the event organizers are currently beginning the construction of temporary Olympic sites, the equivalent of an 80,000-seat stadium in the heart of the city.
Whether you are a local resident, healthcare professional or restaurant delivery person, traffic rules will apply in Paris.
Near the test sites, different zones will be designed, in particular the red perimeter in which pedestrians and cyclists will be able to circulate freely while drivers of motorized vehicles must show their credentials.
In this case, a certificate — in the form of a QR code — that it will be possible to retrieve online, on the platform that the police headquarters should launch in the spring.
However, not all of you will be able to pass law enforcement roadside checks.
But after three months of consultation, notably through public meetings in the districts of Paris, the list of authorizations has been “largely enriched”, reassures police prefect Laurent Nuñez.
Residents with parking
The public who will be able to obtain these exemptions upon presentation of proof “are essentially local residents as long as they have a vehicle and parking, whether public, private or on a parking lane that we will reserve », Explains the Parisian police chief.
Logically, emergency services (firefighters, ambulance, SOS Doctors, etc.) will have authorization to enter these areas without being subject to a pass.
Health professionals…
“All treatments are covered,” assures Laurent Nuñez.
That is to say home care, meal delivery for vulnerable people, childcare or even cleaning services, as long as they are intended for a vulnerable person, or for an emergency.
In the same way, “urgent interventions, I am thinking of various and varied repairs, since we have been contacted by elevator operators, for example, will be able to enter these red zones by vehicle,” assures the prefect.
Moving is possible
Another new feature compared to the original list, “we have agreed that markets could be possible including in red zones as long as there is no obstacle to traffic”, continues the senior official.
On the other hand, vehicles from second-hand dealers and flea market dealers will not be able to benefit from the same authorizations.
“We also planned the moves!
» And the marauding will also be maintained.
Restaurants can be delivered
Laurent Nuñez assures him, “we want to maintain economic activity”.
In fact, and this was the result of great concern among restaurateurs, cafe owners and bar managers, deliveries from these commercial establishments will also be taken into account.
Again, upon presentation of a certificate.
“We have admitted that deliveries can be made during the day, we will specify time slots to avoid crossing with pedestrian flows,” remarks the prefect.
Work authorized, but…
Two different policies apply to the continuity of works in real estate.
Thus, “we have planned to limit them when they have an impact, a influence, on the roads,” explains Laurent Nuñez.
Inside buildings, we are ensuring that this remains possible.
» Vehicles will be able to circulate for the “delivery of personnel and materials only”, as specified in the list available online, on the prefecture website.
And taxis and VTC?
There was also the question of the free movement, or not, of taxis and other VTCs.
In their case, it will also be possible to ride within the red perimeters, provided that it is a drop-off, in which case the customer must have the pass, or “for a pick-up upon reservation to be presented during access control.
Tourist coaches, for their part, are excluded.
“The responsibility of each other”
In total, nearly 60 specific cases were studied by the police headquarters services in order to relax these traffic restrictions and “disrupt as little as possible the lives of Ile-de-France residents”, and more particularly Parisians.
“The goal is for the party to be beautiful and therefore safe.
And so that life can unfold with as little impact as possible,” says Anne Hidalgo, the mayor (PS) of Paris.
“I’m taking my risk,” continues the police chief.
If one day there is an accident, people will come and ask me:
Why this vehicle, why this authorization?
We call on everyone to be responsible.
I am a police authority, if I notice that the exemptions lead to a traffic jam, I close the floodgates.
We will have to be collectively disciplined.
» It’s up to Parisians to play the game.