Anne Hidalgo Wants a “Street Code” for Paris

On the occasion of his greetings to elected officials, the Mayor of Paris expressed her desire to create a “street code” to facilitate coexistence between pedestrians and road users.

The idea of a street code had already been mentioned by Anne Hidalgo during the 2020 municipal campaign. It is currently under discussion within the citizen assembly, a body composed of 100 Parisians randomly chosen. For now, the project’s details are yet to be defined, but all indications suggest that if this street code is indeed implemented, it will be unfavorable to motorists and two-wheel motorized users.

“Our fellow citizens have shared with us a number of concerns. The first concerns road safety and the difficult coexistence between pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, taxis, delivery vehicles, and buses. That’s not okay. We will address these issues. We will take this matter seriously, starting with a major event in February involving residents, experts, public and private partners, leading to a Parisian Street Code,” affirmed Anne Hidalgo. The elected official hopes that these new rules will be implemented starting June 2023.

Less Cars, More Cycling Lanes in Paris

In general, the presence of cars in the capital will continue to decrease in the coming months. “I reiterate, in 2023, we will more than ever embrace our political identity: fewer cars for cleaner air,” proclaimed the socialist mayor. She added: “Fewer cars, fewer scooters, also means less noise.” The ZTL project (Restricted Traffic Zones) in the heart of the city will undergo a “decisive step in 2023.” However, it is not clear what exactly is meant by this phrase. The latest reports indicated that the implementation of the ZTL was scheduled for 2024.

Logically, Paris will continue to densify its network of dedicated bike lanes. In 2024, 45 km of cycle paths are expected to be created. New pedestrian zones will also be established in several districts.

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