Motorists planning to visit Paris have been warned of an unexpected new rule that could make driving in the city a harder experience.
To cut pollution and congestion in the French capital, Paris City Hall has introduced a limited traffic zone (LTZ) requiring non-residents to have a valid reason for their car journey.
Speaking to Zag Daily, Henk Swarttouw, President of the European Cyclists’ Federation, welcomed the move, stating that it could make the city a healthier and safer area to live in.
He explained: “The limited traffic zone in Paris is a courageous but necessary step which will lead to reduced pollution, less congestion in the affected areas and in general a healthier and more liveable city centre,
“LTZs are not about reducing access for people who need to be there, but about banning through traffic which has no destination within the zone. Historic city centres, whether Paris, Rome, Madrid or Amsterdam, were never built for the present level of motorisation through traffic.”
Already rolled out across the city centre of Paris, which spans around three square miles, the LTZ requires drivers who are not residents to prove they have a destination stop within the area.
Paris City Hill hopes the measure will stop motorists, including tourists, from driving through the city on more congested roads rather than the faster-flowing Boulevard Périphérique.
The LTZ will be enforced 24 hours a day, and those stopped without a valid destination in Central Paris risk a fine of €135 (around £110).
Speaking to the motoring publication Auto Express, Bastion Thibault, the official in charge of rolling out the LTZ, noted that
He added: “The aim of the ZTL is to prohibit through traffic, and reserve the use of roadway for vehicles, for activities and people who really need it.”
The scheme will feature a six-month grace period, with drivers who break the rule given a warning. Several campaigns will also be introduced to make motorists aware of the change.