In Paris, Anne Hidalgo says she is imposing a speed limit of 50 km/h on the ring road

Galvanized by the Olympic Games, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo is making unilateral decisions about traffic, including the ring road.

Knowing how to take advantage of every opportunity is a quality in politics, especially when it comes to the weaknesses of one’s opponents. In the absence of a government, Anne Hidalgo saw a gap to push through her urgent decisions. Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower, pedestrianization of its surroundings and the Jena Bridge, tripling parking fees for vehicles weighing over 1600 kg, maintaining the carpool lane on the ring road… and reviving a reduction of the speed limit from 70 to 50 km/h starting in October 2024.

Without even taking the time to assess the effects of the carpool lane that will be tested after the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Anne Hidalgo thus wants to force her laws through, at the risk of inciting unprecedented unrest. A dangerous game considering that the ring road is not the property of Paris, but of Île-de-France. Millions of drivers use it every day to get to work, so it is certainly not a whim for polluters.

Alas, since the law on the transfer of competencies on January 1, 2019, the management of the ring road, as well as its maintenance, traffic, and safety, are entirely the responsibility of the city of Paris. However, certain strategic decisions may involve the Île-de-France region and the State, especially when it comes to infrastructure projects or major changes. And this is where Hidalgo is going all in.

At the beginning of 2024, the State had already opposed the plan to lower the speed limit, a highly sensitive issue in public opinion. It follows the movement of the Yellow Vests, where workers constantly feel persecuted by their representatives.

A demagogic decision?

With 1.1 million vehicles circulating daily on the ring road, making it one of the busiest roads in Europe, can the Mayor of Paris, without consulting the other cities in the region and the State, impose such a decision? Is it not a denial of reality to think that 12 million inhabitants can commute daily using already saturated and failing public transport? Shouldn’t the transportation issues be addressed first to then motivate drivers to abandon their cars?

Hidalgo emphasizes environmental concerns to justify her choice. Yet, the average speed on the ring road is often already below 50 km/h due to traffic jams. The removal of an additional lane has already begun to create massive congestion during this back-to-school period in September. “It’s a public health measure for the 500,000 people living near the ring road,” said Hidalgo.

80% of ring road users are not Parisians, which is why the State and the Prefecture of Paris have opposed this speed reduction ambition.

In short, the return for the residents of the Île-de-France region promises to be yet again very complicated. Beware of the boiling point!

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