According to Paris’s new 2021-2026 cycling city plan, Paris has some big plans in the works for everyday cyclers.
Carlton Reid, author of Paris To Become 100% Cycling City Within Four Years, Reveals New Plan and senior contributor to Forbes Magazine, reports that the City not only intends to implement their existing $174 million cycling plan — which they call “Plan Velo” — but increase it to $290 million in an effort to build a “100% cyclable city.”
“(Plan Velo is the existing, $174 million cycling plan which has been getting bolder and bolder with each update. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was elected for a second term last year after successfully introducing many pro-bicycling measures. On October 23, Hidalgo launched her campaign to become President of France.)“
Their new plan, which is fittingly referred to as “Plan Velo: Act 2” is set to build off the previous plan and increase the number of parking spaces for bikes, increase the number of protected bike lanes, create extra bike lane facilities, and add additional maintenance measures for general upkeep (such as snow removal).
In total, Plan Velo: Act 2 intends to remove 72% of it’s on-street car parking, erect 30,000 parking stands for bikes, 40,000 parking spaces near transit stations, 1,000 spaces for cargo bikes, and create a completely pedestrian-centric 15-minute city. Additionally, the private sector is expected to contribute another 50,000 spaces.
“That Paris is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s premier cycling cities has not gone unnoticed. Recently, the New York Times claimed Paris was facing “anarchy” because of the increase in cycling.”
“On Twitter, urbanists countered this story—headline: “As Bikers Throng the Streets, ‘It’s Like Paris Is in Anarchy’”— with videos showing scores of people serenely cycling in the city, no anarchy evident.”
Full Story: Paris To Become 100% Cycling City Within Four Years, Reveals New Plan by author Carlton Reid; originally published in Forbes on October 22, 2021.
