The Paris ring road, which begins its transition to 50 km/h this Tuesday, October 1, until October 10, 2024, puts an end to inter-vehicle traffic for motorcyclists on this route. This practice, authorized only on roads limited to 70 km/h or more, will no longer be possible. From now on, motorcyclists will have to wait behind cars, even in traffic jams.
The Paris ring road is a must for motorists and motorcyclists in and around Paris. Until now, two-wheelers have been able to squeeze in between vehicles, a not inconsiderable advantage in frequent traffic jams. But with the gradual reduction of the speed limit to 50 km/h on the entire boulevard, this practice is coming to an end. According to the law in force, inter-vehicle traffic is only permitted when the maximum speed is at least 70 km/h. Motorcyclists will now have to wait behind cars, even during rush hour.
This change is part of Paris City Hall's desire, under the impetus ofAnne Hidalgo, to reduce speed on the ring road for safety reasons and to improve the quality of life of local residents. The project, announced for 2023, is also presented as a legacy of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The modification is accompanied by the installation of new traffic signs, with partial night-time closures to allow for their installation.
The gradual changeover to 50 km/h on the Paris ring road begins this Tuesday, October 1, with an initial 12-kilometer stretch from Porte des Lilas to Porte d'Orléans, where the maximum speed limit is reduced from 70 to 50 km/h. This change will be gradually extended over the entire ring road until October 10, standardizing the speed limit.
The modification schedule is as follows:
In all, 160 traffic signs will be installed during six nights of partial closure, between 10 pm and 6 am. This project, announced by Anne Hidalgo since 2019 and presented as a legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is still being debated, particularly with reservations expressed by Transport Minister François Durovray, who points out that the mayor is not the sole decision-maker.
This major change does not meet with unanimous approval. Many local residents and motorists are voicing their concerns about the traffic jams that are likely to be exacerbated by this limit. But for motorcyclists, it's above all the loss of the inter-file that will have a direct impact on the way they get around Paris.
Note that initially, there should not be many controls, as the City of Paris wishes to give drivers a period of adaptation. The length of this period has not been specified. Thereafter, automatic speed cameras should be adjusted to take account of the new speed limit. As for mobile controls, they remain rare on the ring road.
Recommended age
For all
