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Paris goes car free today to tackle air pollution





Bombadier Botty

Complete Twaddle
Jun 2, 2008
3,258
Not since the Third Reich triumphantly drove their low emission open top Volkswagens up the Champs Elysees in June 1940 has the air quality of Paris been so healthy.
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Licker Extraordinaire
Jul 11, 2003
73,270
West west west Sussex
http://road.cc/content/news/166652-first-car-free-day-paris-sees-massive-pollution-and-noise-drop

A ‘car-free’ day in Paris led to a dramatic drop in both air and noise pollution - leading the mayor to propose more vehicle free days in the French capital.

For one day private cars - and motorbikes - with diesel or petrol engines were shunned from the city's streets in a bid to raise awareness of the dangerous levels of pollution the city suffers, and to showcase city life without motor cars, where pedestrians and cyclists instead have priority.

Paris Sans Voitures took place last Sunday ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, whose goal is to agree a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change from all nations of the world.

It also followed one day in March where air pollution became so bad it made Paris into the world’s most polluted city for a brief period.

Airparif, which measures city pollution levels, said levels of nitrogen dioxide dropped by up to 40% in parts of the city on Sunday 27 September - and there was almost one-third less nitrogen dioxide pollution on the busy Champs Elyées than on a similar Sunday.

Bruitparif, which measures noise, said sound levels dropped by half in the city centre.

Police did not agree to allow the ban across the whole city, meaning that only about 30% of areas took part, but that did not dim the mayor’s enthusiasm for the project.

City mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Twitter: “We might envisage days without cars more often … perhaps even once a month.”

In its report for 2014, according to the Guardian, Airparif wrote: “Despite meteorological conditions favourable to the quality of air in 2014, 2.3 million French people are still exposed to levels of pollution that do not respect the rules, particularly in the case of (lead) particles and nitrogen dioxide. Those living in the Paris region and near major roads are the most affected.”

Jean-Francois Husson, head of the Sénat committee, said: ”There’s lots of work to do … Europe and states have to act.”

Christophe Najdovski, deputy mayor in charge of transport, said: “We’re behind on this and we cannot afford to be,” Najdovski said.

“We have to change people’s attitudes and behaviour. The fact is you don’t need a car to get around in Paris and there is no reason to use one most of the time. You can take public transport, bicycles and even walk.

“The young have a different relationship with cars. They are much less likely to buy a car and more interested in car-sharing and similar schemes.

“My dream Paris would be a city without cars. It may be idealistic, but we have to start somewhere. And this is the road we have to go down if we want to have a city we can live in.”
 

Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Licker Extraordinaire
Jul 11, 2003
73,270
West west west Sussex
Belfast follows Paris with three hour car free Sunday

http://road.cc/content/news/166665-belfast-follows-paris-three-hour-car-free-sunday

Belfast was the latest city to close some of its city centre streets to motor traffic for three and a three quarter hours this morning so people could cycle and enjoy normally traffic-dominated roads.

Named Ciclovia, and apparently part of a "worldwide event", the initiative generated slightly less of a buzz than the recent traffic Paris sans Voiture, but seems to have been popular nonetheless.

So those on bikes could ride traffic-free Botanic Avenue, Shaftesbury Square, Dublin Road and Bedford St were closed to motor traffic for the event, which also featured music and other entertainment.



Isn't about time Brighton stepped up on this?
 


Hastings gull

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2013
4,635
Belfast follows Paris with three hour car free Sunday

http://road.cc/content/news/166665-belfast-follows-paris-three-hour-car-free-sunday

Belfast was the latest city to close some of its city centre streets to motor traffic for three and a three quarter hours this morning so people could cycle and enjoy normally traffic-dominated roads.

Named Ciclovia, and apparently part of a "worldwide event", the initiative generated slightly less of a buzz than the recent traffic Paris sans Voiture, but seems to have been popular nonetheless.

So those on bikes could ride traffic-free Botanic Avenue, Shaftesbury Square, Dublin Road and Bedford St were closed to motor traffic for the event, which also featured music and other entertainment.



Isn't about time Brighton stepped up on this?

IF we are serious about climate change, then why not go for a ban on all vehicles throughout the country, on say one Sunday every three months, or whatever, with the exception of emergency vehicles, of course. Doubtless folk will scream about the impossibility of such a move, because they selfishly refuse to change but if it is well publicised beforehand with plenty of warning- and strictly enforced - people will adapt if they have to. If this is totally impractical, then have public transport as an exception, but keep cars off the road. IF we are serious . .
 

Thunder Bolt

Ordinary Supporter
Athens bans cars on alternate days, depending on your registration number. It's fairly simple - one day, even numbers and the next, odd.
It does help that they have a good trolley bus and tube system for alternative travel.
 


Ex-Staffs Gull

New member
Jul 5, 2003
1,687
Adelaide, SA
IF we are serious about climate change, then why not go for a ban on all vehicles throughout the country, on say one Sunday every three months, or whatever, with the exception of emergency vehicles, of course. Doubtless folk will scream about the impossibility of such a move, because they selfishly refuse to change but if it is well publicised beforehand with plenty of warning- and strictly enforced - people will adapt if they have to. If this is totally impractical, then have public transport as an exception, but keep cars off the road. IF we are serious . .
Are you proposing shutting airports, ferry terminals, trains, buses & taxis down?
 

gazingdown

Well-known member
Feb 26, 2011
1,054
If this really is a "climate/pollution" issue then public transport MUST also be banned on the given day. Often they pollute much more than cars too.

So, everything banned except emergency vehicles.
 

Beach Hut

Brighton Bhuna Boy
Jul 5, 2003
71,891
Living In a Box
If we are that serious about climate change we should drastically reduce the price of public transport and make it more reliable.
 

Hastings gull

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2013
4,635
Are you proposing shutting airports, ferry terminals, trains, buses & taxis down?

Obviously one has to be practical and I did qualify my statement to that effect. Seeing your posy, I just tried to book a ferry at Dover on Xmas day and it did not let me, so it is quite possible to close down a ferry terminal. Buses and taxis -why do they need to run, if you have ample warning? Do not trains close down also on Xmas Day -try getting a train on Boxing Day to the Albion. It has all been done before, and CAN be done if we are serious. Though I fully accept you are simply asking the question, don't take this in any way personally, but if we are serious, then we have to cut through all the excuses that folk will give to continue to operate at their convenience.
 


Hastings gull

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2013
4,635
All well and good on a sunny day

Assume you are joking, but if not, there is always monopoly on a rainy day. On a more serious note, it might also give families a chance simply to wind down, spend some time at home or in the garden, and just enjoy each other's company.
 

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