Move over Copenagen, Paris is coming for the title of the world’s most bike-friendly city! By 2026, the ‘City of Light’ is set to be completely cyclable.
What Is “Plan Velo: Act 2?”
Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has announced an investment of 250 million euros ($290 million) to make Paris completely cycable by 2026! This major update to its existing plan — called “Plan Velo” — will ensure that residents and tourists in Paris are able to cycle around the whole city safely.
“Plan Velo: Act 2” comprises a range of measures that will be rolled out from now until 2026, including the addition of another 130km of bike-safe pathways around Paris. But, making the city 100% cyclable isn’t just about infrastructure.
Under this act, Paris will also see more car parking spots transformed into bike pathways, more bike repair workshops, better maintenance for bike pathways (like snow removal), as well as better education about bike safety in Parisian schools!
Due To The Pandemic, Paris Has Experienced A Boost In Cycling
As one of Europe’s most congested cities, things are really turning around in Paris. The pandemic prompted a dramatic decline in car congestion and a significant increase in cycling. During the pandemic alone, more than 50km of temporary bike-only lanes, have been made permanent.
“Bicycle counters recorded an increase in cycle paths by 47% on average between 2019 and 2020 and by 22% between 2020 and 2021.
The pandemic has shown that more people will take up cycling if the infrastructure is in place to do so. Already, Paris’ plan to remove more than 70% of existing on-street parking spots designated for motorcars. Plus, the city is changing up its traffic light system to prioritise bikes, trams and buses.
Could Paris Become The Most Bike-Friendly City In The World?
Some of the most bike-friendly cities in the world — like Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Montreal (Canada), and Antwerp (Belgium) — make it easy and accessible for residents and tourists to cycle around the city.
These cities have prioritised bike-safe pathways, bike parking, access to bike rentals, and even some car-free roads and intersections. Bike-friendly cities traditionally have lower levels of air pollution, traffic congestion, car accidents — and in some cases — happier, healthier people, and better life outcomes.
Plan Velo: Act 2 includes a raft of measures to boost cycling tourism, which is a fantastic way to see the beautiful sights of Paris while working up a sweat.
Are Australian Cities Bike-Friendly?
Do you cycle around an Australian capital city? We know that cycling (and walking) around our cities is a healthy, low-cost way to get from A to B. Swapping out the car for the bike means less car-related emissions polluting the atmosphere, less money spent on fuel, and fewer cars on the road — especially during the nightmarish peak hours.
Unfortunately, Australian cities are very far away from being completely bike-friendly. The problem is that our CBD’s are the heart and soul of our sprawling cities.
Smaller cities like Adelaide, Perth and Canberra are actually among some of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, but there are still critical issues surrounding safety. In the future, we’d love to see more bike-friendly lanes and less car congestion in our cities!
Keen to cycle around Paris and see all the beautiful sights? So are we! Mayor Hidalgo’s plan to make Paris completely cyclable by 2026 will add enormous value to the city for residents and tourists.
To hear about more sustainable initiatives in cities all around the world, head on over to our Eco News category and check out the blogs below.
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