Paris bans transit traffic in city centre, with new focus on bicycles and walking

The city of Paris has established a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) designed to limit traffic from the city centre to refocus on public transport and active mobility, following in the wake of similar moves in other European cities such as Madrid, Milan, and Rome.

The new order  bans transit traffic from entering the 1st to 4th arrondissements of the city and covers 5.5 square kilometres in the city’s centre. Only traffic originating from or destined for the central streets of Paris will be authorised in the area.

It  applies to motor vehicles including cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, and motorised 2-wheelers, while “active” modes of transport such as bicycles and scooters will not be affected.

It is hoped that anywhere between 350,000 to 550,000 passenger vehicles will be excluded from travelling through the heart of Paris per day.

The initiative is part of Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the capital of France, and it is being implemented slowly with an educational phase so as to allow Parisians to familiarise themselves with the new traffic arrangements.

Fines will only be given in 2025, and only in consultation with the local police prefecture, with fines up to €135 for offenders.

However, numerous reports have suggested that many Parisians are virtually unaware of the new rules and couldn’t care less even if they did know about it. One Parisian, speaking to EuroNews, said that “I have a very limited opinion, as I’m Parisian: I don’t own any vehicles, and I ride my bike.”