Inside the Industry: Is Paris car ban a sign of things to come?

Right now, there's a lot of talk about reimagining our reliance on cars in cities, where the potential risks they present, from injuries to pollution, are statistically at their greatest.

Action has been under way to address the issues for some time, but the balance has typically been more in favour of raising revenue than cutting journey times via congestion charges, or encouraging lower-emission forms of transport, such as pedal bikes.

But there is much more to come.

A sign of where things are heading was revealed last month in Paris, a city that has been at the forefront of proactive action for some time despite its often well-deserved reputation for turning its roads to gridlock at a moment’s notice.

The plan is that from 2024 – just before the Olympics – a so-called ‘Paris-Centre to Saint-Germain peaceful zone’ will be introduced, closing the first to fourth arrondissements to any through traffic.

This includes landmarks such as the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Pompidou Centre – although traffic heading to a destination will still be allowed.

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It is traffic crossing the city centre that in theory will be forced elsewhere.

The complexity of making this idea a reality means its success – or otherwise – will be watched by like-minded cities around the world.

It remains unclear, for instance, how cars will be fairly categorised.

ANPR surely can’t monitor every corner of every street, and who’s to say if a two minute coffee stop can be determined as a destination prior to heading on?

The complexity may mean that imposing a blanket ban will be easier for everyone to monitor – if not live with.

While the execution may be different, it already seems certain that London, and then other major UK cities, will not be far behind Paris in imposing similar restrictions.

The betting is that these will include some allowances for zero-tailpipe emissions vehicles – plug-in hybrids and electric cars – but it is a brave person who’d second guess law makers, especially in the current, highly charged climate.