The French government has indicated that it will implement strict enforcement to ensure smooth traffic for the accredited vehicles.
Paris is preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games, and that means traffic changes. From Monday 15 July, special Olympic lanes will be introduced on the roads in Paris and Île-de-France, including the ring road. These measures will remain in force until mid-September, with the aim of facilitating mobility for accredited persons. But who gets to use these lanes? What are the restrictions? And what do you risk if you break the rules? Here's everything you need to know.
With the start of the Olympic Games on July 26, preparations are already starting to have an impact on traffic in Île-de-France. In addition to the temporary closure of several metro stations and the extension of line 14, it is now the turn of Paris' highways to adapt.
From July 15, Olympic lanes will be activated on 185 km of roads around Paris, including the ring road between Porte de Vanves and Porte de Bercy (via the north). The main roads affected are the A1, from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle to Porte de la Chapelle, from July 15 to September 11, the A4, from Collégien junction to Porte de Bercy, from July 15 to August 13 and from August 30 to September 8 and the A12, from Rocquencourt to Montigny-le-Bretonneux, from July 15 to August 13 and from August 27 to September 8. Furthermore, the view is on the A13, from Porte Maillot to Rocquencourt, from July 15 to August 13 and from August 27 to September 8, the RN13, from July 15 to August 13 and from August 27 to September 8 and the Boulevard périphérique, from Porte de Vanves to Porte de Bercy, until August 13 and from August 22 to September 11.
These roads provide direct access to the competition locations and will be marked with specific signs and road markings with the logo of the Games or the text “Paris 2024”. On all these roads, the left lane will be reserved for accredited vehicles.
Only vehicles accredited by the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games may use these lanes.
Only vehicles accredited by the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games may use these lanes. The permitted categories of vehicles are persons associated with the Olympic Games and taxis, but this does not apply to VTCs (private hire vehicles). Public transport such as buses and other forms of public transport may also use the lane and emergency and enforcement vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks and police cars.
Fines
Failure to comply with the rules around the Olympic lanes can lead to strict penalties. Drivers who use these reserved lanes without permission risk high fines. The French government has indicated that it will implement strict enforcement to ensure smooth traffic for the accredited vehicles.
The implementation of these Olympic lanes is one of many measures being taken to prepare the city for the influx of visitors and participants to the Games. It is expected that these temporary adjustments will contribute to a more efficient and safer traffic situation during the busy period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
