Anne Hidalgo now targets the Concorde

Not a month goes by without the Paris City Hall unleashing its anti-car crackdown. The latest target, Place de la Concorde.

In the pages of la Tribune Dimanche, Anne Hidalgo announced that the iconic Parisian square of Concorde “will be opened for strolling from the Tuileries to the obelisk”, on the evening of the 2024 Paris Olympics. To put this decision into context, remember that over 7.5 hectares, it is the largest Parisian square and one of the five royal squares in Paris, along with the Place des Vosges, the Place Dauphine, the Place des Victoires, and the Place Vendôme. A wonder for tourists, but for Parisians, it is primarily a nightmare in terms of traffic. Amid construction and road redesigns, it remains one of the city’s main trouble spots in both directions, Madeleine – National Assembly and Champs-Élysées – Tuileries.

What are the arguments put forward by the elected official? A “smoother traffic flow by closing half of the square.” So, better traffic flow by reducing the space available for traffic… At least, it’s quite an original approach.

As with the speed limit on the périphérique, the Olympic Games will once again serve as a good excuse to implement a certain vision of coexistence between pedestrians and cars. Indeed, Place de la Concorde will host the very popular urban sports events with BMX freestyle, breakdancing, skateboarding, and three-on-three basketball. It will also serve as a stunning setting for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. For this purpose, the area between the obelisk and the Tuileries Garden was supposed to be temporarily closed. It will likely remain closed forever.

All drivers who have ever entered this square know how dangerous it is. Pedestrians often cross the square in total chaos, seeking the best photo of the alignment between the obelisk and the Arc de Triomphe. An argument to protect them by giving more space for strolling would make sense, but the circulation argument is simply absurd and inaudible. Once again, auto-phobia sadly takes precedence over reason.