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Paris wants to be more pedestrian-friendly

January 7, 2016

The French capital will be more attractive to pedestrians. The Champs-Élysées will be closed to automobile traffic on a regular basis, and a stretch of road along the right bank of the Seine made a car-free zone.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HZwv
Champs Elysees car free, Copyright: AP Photo/Thibault Camus
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Thibault Camus

The air in Paris is often clogged with smog, so Mayor Anne Hidalgo decided to take action. As of April, the Champs-Élysées will be closed to traffic one Sunday a month, which will certainly please tourists and locals alike. In September 2015, the Champs-Élysées was closed to cars for a day as a trial run. The avenue is one of the most famous boulevards in the world and attracts many tourists. It's also an important traffic artery.

In late summer, a section of road along the right bank of the Seine will be permanently converted into a pedestrian promenade. A similar project has already been implemented on the Left Bank, where there are now bars and cafes, small gardens, outdoor exhibitions and play areas for children

ey/ks (dpa, afp)