Re: Program contents...

Ladies and Gentlemen

I'd like to enter the fray by mentioning a few things about my new home.

I would love to see a carfree Paris.

At close to 25 000 / km2 the city of Paris is one of the most densely
populated places in Europe.  Proximity: On every street corner there
is a bakery, a bistro, a grocery store, a bottle store or a fashion
boutique.  Mobility: If longer trips need be made, there is an
efficient, extensive and heavily-utilised metro system.  No citizen is
more than a few hundred meters from the nearest metro stop.  There is
also a very extensive bus network, with segregated bus lanes along
most routes.  And, there is now a tramway encircling most of the city.

There should be, quite simply, no reason to own a car in Paris.

And despite this, Paris is completely overrun with cars and scooters.

Why?

* Because the metro can be incredibly crowded at times, hot and uncomfortable.
* The metro only runs until a little after midnight.  After that one
has to take the night bus, which is infrequent, crowded, and has poor
network coverage.  Or stand in a queue for an hour hoping to flag down
a taxi.
* Despite the bus lanes, buses still regularly get bogged down in
traffic, making them unreliable for time sensitive appointments.
* Rail workers go on strike here quite often, leading to service
unpredictability.
* The road network of grand boulevards, constructed to alleviate
traffic problems long before the invention of the automobile,
encourages traffic circulation.
* Prestigious automobiles transport the rich in great luxury - I must
take pains to point out that this status quo predates the automobile.
* Cycling is difficult, despite the recent efforts to construct cycle
paths.  The designs are ill-advised, as many of the cycle paths run
over existing pavements; pedestrians often are not aware that they are
walking on a cycle path and can not hear the ring of a bicycle bell
over the traffic roar.
* Scooters provide rapid cross-town transport, thanks to their ability
to accelerate quickly, sidle through traffic, and occasionally drive
on pavements.  Parking is universally available - the pavement again.
* Having a car is handy, for transporting bulky or heavy items on occasion.

The current mayor of Paris has implemented a variety of projects to
improve livability and reduce auto mobility.  The construction works
are now reaching completion.  The focus has primarily been on widening
pavements and narrowing streets, as well as the construction of
bicycle paths.  I mentioned the problem with the cycle paths, but the
narrow streets also cause problems as stationary trucks unloading
boxes regularly block traffic, leading to much hooting and furious
drivers screaming out their windows.

I can't help feeling that the tremendous amount of construction has
had little direct effect in terms of reducing the number of cars,
while at the same time has incensed a large number of Parisians, to
the point that many I have spoken to believe the mayor will not win
re-election.  Surely it would have been better to focus city funds and
energy on closing streets to cars altogether, i.e. deliveries-only by
small trucks at certain times, and accessible by emergency services if
needs be.

I am considering starting a project in the new year to with the
assistance of other environmentalists in my quarter, to close my own
street to traffic.  It is a tiny street, with a low narrow archway at
one end, and a four-flight staircase at the other.  It is primarily
used a parking lot by approximately 12 cars every night.  I do not
know exactly what is the best way to proceed with this project.
Indeed, this for me is the most valuable purpose of the world car free
network - providing information packs and media resources
demonstrating how best to conduct local projects that succeed in
removing cars.  Specifically, the technical aspects of still allowing
deliveries and emergency access while blocking passenger cars, as well
as the political aspects of dealing with local goverments / city
councils, and ready-made brochures that can be distributed to
interested parties in the street.

Assuming we ultimately succeed in this endeavour, it will be a good
starting point to work towards complete pedestrianisation of
Montmartre.  One street at a time.  Is there any other way?

If anyone else has comments on this I look forward to hearing them.

Regards

Patrick Collins


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