Parisians vote to pedestrianize 500 roads in efforts to improve air quality

Residents of Paris have backed a scheme to pedestrianize and create green spaces on hundreds of streets in the French capital – although barely four percent of the electorate cast their votes. 

Almost two-thirds of those who voted in the consultative poll backed the "garden roads" scheme to pedestrianize a further 500 of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by the French capital's left-leaning town hall to curb car usage and improve air quality.

Official results showed 65.96 percent in favor of the measure, with 34.04 percent against, from a turnout of just 4.06 percent.

The referendum will eliminate 10,000 more parking spots in Paris, adding to the 10,000 removed since 2020. The city's two million residents will be consulted on which streets will become pedestrian areas.

Paris town hall data shows car traffic in the city has more than halved since the Socialists took power in the capital at the turn of the century.

The 500 additional streets to be pedestrianized will bring the total number of these so-called "green lungs" to nearly 700, just over a tenth of the capital's streets.

De facto referendums

Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo has now staged three of these de facto referendums in as many years, following a 2023 vote that approved a ban on e-scooters, and a decision last year to triple parking charges for large SUVs.

"This vote reinforces our commitment to continue sharing public space for pedestrians and to make Paris greener," said Christophe Najdovski, deputy mayor in charge of green spaces. 

Referring to the low turnout, Nelly Garnier of the right-wing opposition said: "Parisians did not want to get involved in a PR campaign by the city hall."

Hidalgo, mayor since 2014 but who plans to step down in 2026 elections, has been acclaimed by supporters for squeezing traffic in the city center but accused by opponents of failing to get to grips with day-to-day problems in the French capital.

Her latest moves to fight congestion and improve air quality in Paris have included limiting one lane of its notoriously busy ring road to car-sharing during rush hours and reducing the speed limit on the highway.

But critics accuse her of merely shifting traffic and causing even heavier concentrations of cars elsewhere with bike schemes while also allowing security, cleanliness and public transport to deteriorate.

Despite recent changes, Paris lags other European capitals in terms of green infrastructure - which include private gardens, parks, tree-lined streets, water and wetlands - making up only 26 percent of the city area versus a European capitals average of 41 percent, according to the European Environment Agency.