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How Paris Is Taking Back Its Streets From Cars

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How Paris Is Taking Back Its Streets From Cars

Mayor Anne Hidalgo is waging "a war on cars." And she's winning.

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Michael Thomas
Apr 28, 2023
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Last month I published a newsletter and YouTube video about how the
Netherlands built a biking utopia. To my surprise, it was one the
most viewed and shared stories I've ever published.

I think the reason that story resonated with so many people was
because it was about much more than biking or sustainable
transportation. It was about the power of grassroots movements, how
public policy shapes the world we live in, and what we can do to
build better cities.

Today I'm excited to share a similar video with you all about a city
that is following in the Netherlands footsteps: Paris.

I hope you all enjoy it.

Distilled is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and
support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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Highlights from this video:

  * In 2015, Paris' newly elected mayor, Anne Hidalgo, announced a
    150 million euro program for new cycling infrastructure.

  * In addition to building bike infrastructure, Paris has also given
    residents money to buy new e-bikes.

  * In 2016, Paris closed a highway along the Seine and turn it into
    a pedestrian area and bike path.

 
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  * A few years later, the city converted Rue de Rivoli, one of the
    busiest roads, into a cycling highway.

  * In 2020, Hidalgo announced that she would remove 72% of the
    city's parking spaces to accommodate cyclists.

  * During the pandemic cycling traffic in Paris exploded. To
    accommodate all the new cycling traffic, Paris built pop-up bike
    lanes.

 
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Credit: Marcel Moran

  * The city's transportation policies have been very popular. In
    2020, Mayor Hidalgo promised to continue her bold redesign of the
    city during her successful re-election campaign.

  * The following year she made good on that promise when she
    announced a 250 million euro investment in cycling
    infrastructure.

 
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  * Many of these changes seem to be working.

  * Between 2020 and 2021, cycling traffic in Paris grew by 70%.

  * Since Paris started this broader project about two decades ago,
    car ownership has fallen from 60% to 35%.

  * And all of this has helped Paris cut its carbon emissions by
    about 20% over that same period.

    Distilled is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts
    and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    [                    ]Subscribe

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