As cities are around the world increasingly step away from car-centric urban planning, it’s safe to say that cycling will soon become a primary mode of transportation for a growing number of people. In Paris, at least, that will definitely be the case.
Starting this year, Parisians are expected to see significantly more bicycle-friendly infrastructure in the French capital, thanks to a new plan aiming to increase the number of protected bike lanes and bicycles parking spots.
The new plan, called Plan Velo: Act 2, represents a follow-up of the existing $174 million cycling plan which has been getting more and more ambitious with each update. Paris Mayor Anne Hildago was elected for a second term last year after successfully passing a number of bicycle-friendly initiatives.
The 2021-2026 cycling plan aims to transform Paris—which until recently was a toxic city for people on bicycles—into a 100 percent bike-friendly city. In addition to the installation of extra facilities for cyclists, the new $260 million plan also pledges to maintain them with promises of “cleaning and snow removal from cycles paths,” reports Forbes.
The city will also increase the number of bicycle parking spaces, while strategically removing car parking spots. As part of Plan Velo: Act 2, residents will see the installation of 30,000 parking stands with an additional 1,000 spaces reserved for cargo bikes. What’s more, there will be 90,000 new secure cycle parking spaces near rail stations, 50,000 of which are expected to be installed by the private sector with the help of incentives and grants.
The plan comes alongside a number of other initiatives seeking to remove cars from the center of the city, including transforming the iconic Champs-Élysées avenue into a huge community garden.
