Paris to become ‘completely cyclable’ by 2026

Paris is investing €250 million (US$290 million) to update its existing biking strategy in a bid to make the French capital ‘completely cyclable’ by 2026.

Plan Velo: Act 2 will see significant upgrades to cycling infrastructure over the next four years, including thousands of new bicycle stands and an increased number of protected cycleways.

In a tweet, David Belliard, Paris’ Deputy Mayor for Urban Transformation, said: “This cycling plan is one of the essential pillars of ecological and social transformation that we are leading in Paris.”

Over 30,000 parking stands will be created as part of the plan, with an additional 1,000 spaces reserved for cargo bikes.

There will also be 40,000 new secure cycle parking spaces near rail stations with the expectation that the private sector will install a further 50,000.

Cycling transformation

Since her election in 2014, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has championed the transformation of the city’s streets from a car-centric model to one that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists.

To combat air pollution, Hidalgo oversaw the introduction of Paris Respire (Paris Breathes) in May 2016, which included banning all cars from certain areas on the first Sunday of the month, as well as making public transport and the city’s bicycle and electric vehicle schemes free for the day.

Other policy changes – including an increase in the price of parking meters, a ban on free parking on some days, and the conversion of certain sections of a highway along the River Seine into a riverside park – have also underscored the city’s efforts to reduce car use.

In January, the mayor also gave the go-ahead to plans to transform the city’s Champs-Élysées into a 1.9 kilometre stretch of greenery featuring tunnels of trees, green spaces and pedestrian zones.

Last September, a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour (19 miles per hour) was introduced on almost all Parisian streets.

The measure – which was first announced in July – was established to increase traffic safety, create more space for cyclists, reduce noise pollution and contribute to climate protection.

Image: EUPK (Flickr)