Anne Hidalgo criticized by the Government over the 50 km/h speed limit on the périphérique

As soon as it was announced, it was immediately contested. The decision by the Paris City Hall to limit the speed on the peripheral to 50 km/h has hit a snag.

The association “40 million drivers” had contacted the government earlier this week regarding the announced decision to limit the speed on the Paris ring road to 50 km/h the day after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The call apparently was heard as the Minister Delegate for Transport, Clément Beaune, was firm this morning on France Info’s airwaves. “We will not validate this decision,” assures Clément Beaune. “It’s not a good idea in the short term.” As usual with the Paris City Hall, these announcements made without consultation or outside opinion do not sit well with the Minister. “The least we can do is decide together with the region,” he states. An elegant way to remind Anne Hidalgo that although she holds the keys to the City Hall, she is not the owner of the building and its dependencies.

The speed on the ring road was already drastically reduced, from 90 to 80 km/h in 1993 and from 80 to 70 km/h in 2014. By the evening of the Paris Olympics, it will therefore be 50 km/h.

This announcement was made on Wednesday, November 22 during the presentation of the new climate plan 2024-2030. The speed reduction is expected to take effect according to this plan starting in September 2024, just after the Olympic Games.

This fourth climate plan nevertheless includes some good measures for the venerable ring road, such as a dedicated lane for carpooling. This lane is expected to follow the one reserved for officials and athletes during the Games. Why promote collective travel on one hand and criticize users on the other? We’ve long gone past the stage of carrots and sticks, so who knows.

“We are moving forward on transforming the ring road with the creation of a dedicated lane for carpooling and public transportation and the speed limit reduction to 50 km/h on this major axis,” said Dan Lert, the deputy responsible for ecological transition for the City of Paris. “How can we accept that kids living near the urban highways that are the ring roads suffocate with asthma attacks, especially in the poorer districts of Paris?” the deputy passionately argues. The main cause of these emissions is, of course, the car, no one contests that, but it is more precisely the accumulation of cars that makes them so harmful. The Paris loop is perpetually congested due to relentless construction. Between closed gates to set up new tram lines, blocked lanes, and a total lack of planning to facilitate exits, nothing is being done to improve this. Before reducing speed to limit emissions, shouldn’t we seriously consider the architecture of these 35 km of roads? It’s more difficult than just changing a number.