Paris reserves motorway lane for carpooling

From March, Paris will reserve one lane of the city's ring road for carpooling, taxis, and buses during rush hour. This measure is intended to protect the climate and provide a healthier living environment for the 550,000 residents along the Boulevard Périphérique, as the 35-kilometer-long ring road around Paris is called, the city announced.

In Paris, the heavily trafficked highway is said to be the area with the highest pollution and a particulate matter load increased by up to two and a half times.

Slower Driving for Cleaner Air

To reduce air pollution and the number of accidents, Paris had already lowered the speed limit on the Périphérique from 70 to 50 km/h in October. During the Olympic Games last summer, a lane was temporarily reserved for participants and contributors of the games.

Around 1.5 million cars travel on the highway daily. According to the city, 80 percent of drivers travel alone. If more people formed carpooling groups, this would reduce congestion, noise, and environmental impact.

Fine of 135 Euros threatened

According to this, the leftmost lane will be reserved from Monday to Friday between 7:00 and 10:20 am as well as from 4:00 to 8:00 pm for cars with at least two occupants, taxis, buses, and people with a disability pass. During a transition phase, drivers who violate the restriction will be asked to change lanes via illuminated signs.

From May 1, a fine of 135 Euros will be threatened if AI-supported monitoring registers a violation. In the case of traffic jams and accidents, the lane can be temporarily reopened.

Separate lanes for carpooling are already being tested in other French cities such as Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rennes, Lyon, Lille, and Nantes. The regulation is indicated by a new traffic sign - a white diamond on a blue background.