France: Parisians vote to create 550 more pedestrian streets

The expansion of pedestrian zones in Paris will bring the total number of pedestrian-only streets to nearly 700, accounting for more than one-tenth of the total number of streets in the French capital.

On March 23, residents of Paris voted in favor of establishing 500 more pedestrian streets, further boosting the Parisian authorities' efforts to reduce car use and improve air quality.

The results of the public opinion poll showed that approximately 65.96% of Parisians who participated in the vote supported the plan, while 34.04% opposed it.

This is the third referendum in Paris in the last three years, following the 2023 vote to ban scooters and last year's decision to triple parking fees for large SUVs.

The addition of 500 pedestrian streets will eliminate another 10,000 parking spaces in Paris, bringing the total number of spaces cut to 20,000 since 2020. The city authorities will continue to consult with residents on which streets will become pedestrian zones.

The expansion of pedestrian zones will increase the total number of pedestrian-only streets to nearly 700, accounting for more than one-tenth of the capital's total street network.

Data from Paris City Hall shows that car traffic in the city has decreased by more than 50% since the Socialist Party came to power at the beginning of this century.

According to the European Environment Agency, despite recent improvements, Paris still lags behind other European capitals in terms of green infrastructure – including private gardens, parks, tree-lined streets, water bodies, and wetlands – which occupy only 26% of the city's area compared to the average of 41% for other European capitals.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phap-nguoi-dan-paris-bo-phieu-de-thiet-lap-them-550-pho-di-bo-post1022341.vnp