Paris Plan Vélo 2021-6

Paris has announced its plan vélo for 2021-6. It aims to make the city 100% cycleable.

The budget for the previous 5 years was €150 million, but for the coming half-decade it will be €250 million.

Paris Plan Vélo: Towards a Complete Network

Paris has 300km of cycle tracks, plus 52km of coronapistes, which are all to be made permanent. In total, there are 1,000km of cycle facilities.

Additions to the network in the next 5 years will include:

• 130km of new segregated cycle tracks, plus the 52km of coronapistes
• Contraflow cycling on 450km of roads (60km already done)
• Make junctions safe in order to link up the city and the wider metropolitan area
• Stop prioritising motor vehicles at traffic lights, and instead give priority to buses, trams, and bikes through a system of 'green waves'

Paris Plan Vélo: Parking to Meet All Needs

Among Parisians who reject the idea of travelling by bike, fear of bike theft is the top reason cited by 81% of them.

Paris intends to add cycle parking as follows:

• 30,000 more parking stands (on top of the current 60,000)
• 40,000 new secure parking spaces near stations
• 10,000 new secure spaces on public land away from stations
• 50,000 parking spaces on private land
• 1,500 parking spaces on land owned by the Ville de Paris
• an obligation to include secure parking when building new buildings, or renovating blocks of flats or offices
• temporary parking for big events

Paris Plan Vélo: Safe and Comfortable Trips

Paris is going to enforce the rules of the road, including making sure that cycle tracks are not blocked, and that where pedestrians have priority it is respected by cyclists.

Cycle routes will be swept, cleared of snow, and de-iced.

Paris Plan Vélo: Supporting a Cycling Culture

Measures to support a cycling culture include:

• teaching children in école élémentaire to ride
• creating DIY bike maintenance workshops
• adapting cycle tracks to be wide enough for cargo bikes
• parking for cargo bikes, and designated delivery areas or cycle logistics hubs
• improving the working conditions and status of self-employed cycle delivery people
• supporting cycle tourism, including better signposting, and bike storage rooms in tourist accommodation
• enabling recycling of bikes, as part of a circular economy
• encouraging cycling as a sport, making the most of the 2024 Olympic Games