The second part of the so-called “Plan Velo” comes into action: Paris will increase the number of protected cycle paths in the city and increase bicycle parking. From now to 2026 the French capital aims to become a 100% cycling city.
The grandeur on two wheels
Plan Velo is the French cycling plan that started with an allocation of about 170 million euros: with its various updates, instead of reducing its scope, they are expanding it, making it one of the most daring projects in the world in terms of cycling.
The declared ambition (I hold back a bit and say "desire") is to transform Paris, not long ago a city considered toxic for citizens in bicycle, in a “100% cycling (and cycle-friendly) city”. The new plan makes available another 280 million euros: it involves the creation of extra facilities for cyclists and a whole new maintenance program for every cycle path. Above all, the plan underlines the daily safety of the routes, with all the necessary cleaning activities and removal of physical or meteorological obstacles (remove the snow, as is done today with driveways).
Liberté, égalité, stationnement
Among the strengths of the new Plan Velo, the lion's share is made up of the new bicycle parking spaces. They will increase significantly, at the same time (and this is news in the news) with the reductions in parking spaces for cars. 30.000 more will rise, with over 1000 spaces reserved also for cargo bikes, to enhance the cycle delivery as well.
The upgrade will also affect interchange nodes: 40.000 new guarded car parks will be created near railway stations, with an option which, through subsidies and other incentives, will also allow the private sector to add another 50.000 spaces.
100% cycle city
The efforts of the French capital have been gigantic. It has already brought over 50km more of cycle path, and has very clear ideas to become a "20 minute" green city within 15 years, in which citizens can reach all the services they need on foot or by bicycle.
As far as I'm concerned, we can only take an example: this is the right way to run to get far.
