Beginning immediately, speed limits on Paris's city motorways will be set at 50 miles per hour.
Currently, a restriction of 50 kilometers per hour is enforced across the entire Paris city circuit. Previous 70 kilometers per hour signs have been swapped out for 50 kilometers per hour signs, and the extensive speed cameras on the congested "Périphérique" have been adjusted to cater to the revised speed limit.
Despite opposition from various parties such as the Ministry of Transport, Mayor Anne Hidalgo implemented this change with the objective of decreasing noise pollution for the thousands of dwellers residing along the 35-kilometer-long ring road. Interestingly, the average speed on the ring road during peak hours is already significantly less than 50 kilometers per hour. An estimated 1.5 million vehicles traverse this road daily, making it one of the busiest road networks in Europe.
This speed limit reform is part of Hidalgo's long-term plan to modernize Paris's transportation system, encourage fewer car rides, and expand bike lanes and pedestrian space. However, many residents in the city's outskirts are dissatisfied with this alteration, as it adds to the already prolonged travel time into the city core. The metro system is presently overcrowded since the conclusion of the Olympics, while the RER, Paris's S-Bahn network, consistently faces delays and cancellations.
In future, Paris plans to assign the Olympic lane on the ring road exclusively for taxis, buses, and carpoolers during predefined time frames. Similar lanes are already in place in various French cities, aimed at promoting carpooling among commuters.
The new speed limit has also influenced the traffic regulations in other French cities, with similar changes being implemented. Despite being fluent in French, some tourists might find navigating the Parisian roads more challenging due to the reduced speed limit.
