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Graphic shows details of plan. 1-4 refer to the arrondissements municpaux, administrative districts: 1er Louvre, Palais Royale, 2ème Bours, 3ème Marais, Picasso Museum, 4ème Marais, Hôtel de Ville
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TRANSPORT

Paris mayor plans to pedestrianise city centre

By Jordi Bou

November 16, 2018 - The Mayor of Paris wants to pedestrianise the centre of the French capital, severely restricting traffic in the city’s first four districts with electric shuttles introduced to combat pollution.

The plan would be Mayor Anne Hidalgo's “next term,” the source said Wednesday, explaining it could be implemented after “in-depth studies, in consultation” with all parties.

A proposal along these lines will be presented at the next municipal council meeting in each of the four districts.

However, Hidalgo first wants to expand a car-free project known in French as “Paris respire” (“Paris breathes”), which sees certain districts pedestrianized on the first Sunday of each month. She hopes it can be extended to every Sunday by 2019.

Hidalgo, who became mayor in 2014, has not yet formally indicated whether she will run for re-election in 2020.

The Paris region also plans to launch a large fleet of electric bicycles in a state-funded program aimed at getting commuters to cycle to work and reducing congestion and pollution.

From September 2019, the regional transport agency Ile-de-France Mobilites (IDFM) will provide up to 10,000 e-bikes for long-term rental, with a view to expanding the program to 20,000, which would make it the world’s largest e-bike rental program.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 16/11/2018; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Associated Press
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