Although electric cars produce no emissions, they are still subject to the same restrictions as vehicles with a combustion engine.
General Delegate MOBILIANS Xavier Horent, has written a critical article on the introduction of the new Zone à Trafic Limité (ZTL) in Paris, in which he sharply criticizes the policy of the Paris municipality and its consequences for mobility and inclusivity in the city. According to Horent, the ZTL, introduced with only minimal support from 357 Parisians who participated in a public survey, is a demagogic measure that does not serve the real interests of the inhabitants.
The principle of the ZTL is to allow only vehicles that can be shown to have a destination in the first four arrondissements of Paris. In practice, this means that motorists who want to use Paris as a transit route are denied access. However, Horent argues that the distinction between “destination traffic” and “transit traffic” is difficult to enforce in practice and will only lead to more complexity and exclusion. He points out that although the municipality uses terms such as “inclusion” to justify the policy, this measure has the opposite effect by excluding certain population groups and businesses from the centre of Paris.
to justify
In his argument Horent recalls vividly the certificates that were required during the corona pandemic to move around the city. This time, he argues, the situation is reversed: residents now have to justify entering the city, not leaving it. This sense of restriction and the need to “account for” contributes to the negative sentiment among Parisians and local residents, he says.
Another concern Horent raises is the impact of the ZTL on the Parisian economy. In his argument, he points to the interests of entrepreneurs, retailers and businesses that rely on accessible mobility for their customers and employees. While the ZTL is hindering access to the city, the municipality has also significantly increased parking fees, which could paradoxically lead to an increase in transit traffic. High parking costs are driving many drivers to seek alternative routes and parking outside the city centre, which will actually increase traffic in the surrounding areas.
A striking point in Horent's criticism is the equal treatment of electric vehicles in the ZTL. Although these cars do not produce any emissions, they are still subject to the same restrictions as vehicles with a combustion engine. For Horent, this is a clear signal that the ZTL is not primarily aimed at improving air quality. He calls it "a confession from the municipality" and states that the ZTL in fact has no positive impact on air pollution and only contributes to the exclusion of everything with more than two wheels.
quality of life
Horent also points out that the city is ignoring other pressing issues while focusing on mobility restrictions in the city centre. He mentions, among other things, pollution in the metro system, the inaccessibility of public transport for people with disabilities, the preservation of heritage and local businesses, and the fight against crime and drug trafficking in certain parts of the city. According to him, these priorities are being overlooked, while they have a much more direct impact on the quality of life of Parisians.
In addition, the representative of MOBILIANS on the upcoming Zone à Faibles Émissions (ZFE), which will ban vehicles with the Crit'Air 1 sticker (older diesel and petrol cars) from parts of Paris from 3 January. While the ZFE is intended to improve air quality, he sees it primarily as a financial burden on people who cannot afford newer vehicles. In his response, Horent expressed concern that these restrictions will further restrict mobility and shift traffic to areas outside the zones, such as the busy périphérique, where speed limits are already 50 km/h.
shot through
Horent concludes his argument by calling on the city of Paris to reconsider which policies really contribute to the well-being and inclusiveness of the city. For him, the ZTL and ZFE represent an excessive control policy that makes the city unrecognizable and makes life unnecessarily difficult and expensive for residents and visitors. The hand of the motorist, he argues, “must no longer applaud this political circus, but be free to choose without the burden of ever more prohibitions and taxes.”
