After a three-month trial, Paris Town Hall is to extend the two-way bike routes into almost all the one-way streets in the 30km/h zones.
Paris Town Hall has been trialling two-way bike routes in certain 30 km/h zones since last November. This
means two-way traffic lanes in which one lane is reserved exclusively for bikes.
The trial turned out to be conclusive, so Paris Town Hall has decided to roll out this development on all the one-way streets in the capital over 2010. In the 2nd and 11th arrondissements, this is effective as of now; in March, the 18th and 20th arrondissements will follow.
The development is a response to the increase in the number of cyclists in Paris and to the need to provide them with more safety. The two-way bike routes effectively allow cyclists to avoid the more dangerous main roads as often as possible. What is more, it means that cyclists and car drivers can establish visual contact and thus better anticipate each other’s approach.
It’s also the Town Hall’s wish to promote a soft transport means and to better share public space among different users. Now, in the districts where the two-way bike routes are already in place, an increase in the number of cyclists and a decrease in the speed of cars have been noticed. So, this low-budget development has a positive impact on sustainable mobility!
Share
