On the Paris ring road, among other things, the Olympic lanes were designed to facilitate the movement of accredited persons. And now that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are over, what's to become of these reserved lanes? Will they disappear for good, or will they be transformed?
The majority of Olympic lanes, initially reserved for para-athletes, cabs and emergency vehicles, have been deactivated since the end of the Olympic Games. However, some remained in service until September 11, 2024, notably on the Paris ring road between Porte de Sèvres and Porte de Bercy, as well as on the boulevard circulaire de la Défense, after the end of the Paralympic Games.
In an interview with Ouest-France on August 31, Anne Hidalgo reaffirmed her desire to transform the Olympic lanes of the ring road into carpool lanes. However, she made it clear that the final decision rested with the French government. In the event of a refusal,"I will take my responsibilities", she warned.
It's a wish that the Mayor of Paris reiterated at her "vœux" to elected representatives on January 15, 2025. "I'm working closely with the President of the Republic to keep this material heritage alive", she explained. For the moment, therefore, there's no information on the transformation of these lanes into car-sharing lanes, but the idea is still there and should become a reality.
All that remains now is to await a decision from the French government. We'll also have to wait for further details on how these lanes will operate, the extent to which the vehicles concerned will be able to use them, and the penalties incurred by those who are not authorized to use them.
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