There is a new wind blowing through the streets of Paris. A wind that smells of freedom, clean air and a sustainable future. It is the wind of the cycling revolution which, in the last year, has transformed the Ville Lumière into a bicycle-friendly city. This was revealed by an investigation by the newspaper Le Monde, which draws a fascinating portrait of this urban metamorphosis due to Plan Vélo, plan wanted by the mayor Anne Hidalgo, and other initiatives.
Cycle paths that are multiplying, cyclists invading the streets, a community that pedals together towards a greener horizon. Paris is embracing cycling like never before, and the results are there for all to see.
The numbers speak clearly
Between October 2022 and October 2023, the number of cyclists on Parisian streets doubled. An extraordinary increase, which demonstrates how the bicycle is now much more than just a passing fad. As the deputy mayor (of the Greens) points out David Belliard, cycling has become an integral part of Paris' very identity. Despite the challenges posed by bad weather, cyclists continue to crowd the streets, setting new attendance records and redesigning the urban landscape.
Behind these successes, as I mentioned, there are 10 years of targeted investments and far-sighted policies. It all started in 2015, when mayor Anne Hidalgo launched Paris' cycling plan, Plan Vélo, allocating 150 million euros to double the number of cycle paths and create a critical mass of infrastructure. A commitment that did not end there, but continued with further investments (and blows, for example on SUVs) to fill the gaps and make Paris a “100% cycling city”.
Plan Vélo, from Paris (hopefully) even further)
The results of the “Parisian vision” can be seen not only in the capital, but throughout France. A huge investment of 2 billion euros is already underway to promote cycling across the country over the next four years. A sign that the pedal revolution is not destined to stop, but rather to spread widely.
Of course, there is still a long way to go. But Paris is demonstrating that a paradigm shift is possible, if we have the courage to invest in quality infrastructure and actively promote sustainable mobility. With every new kilometer of cycle path and every new bicycle that plows its streets, the transalpines are writing history, one pedal stroke at a time.
