When Paris Closed a Major Road to Cars Half Its Traffic Just Disappeared

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Permalink Reply by Nick on October 1, 2016 at 12:12

"The upper road saw a morning increase in traffic of 73%, and 13% in the evening. On the Boulevard Saint Germain, traffic increased 41% in the morning and just 4% in the evening."

Not as simple as the headline makes out.

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Permalink Reply by JoeW on October 1, 2016 at 12:36

The headline should really have said "49.96% of its Traffic Just Disappeared".

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Permalink Reply by Sandi on October 1, 2016 at 13:03

Yes Nick, the headline makes it sound simple, but we know the solutions are not. That said, the solutions are there. Cities bigger than Harringay/Haringey recognise that their approach to traffic, transportation, and the built environment, have to change for the betterment of the health and well-being of those that live in them.

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Permalink Reply by Nick on October 1, 2016 at 13:31

Would you support the closure of Green Lanes rather than Wightman Road? If we're talking about pedestrianisation, isn't Green Lanes a better candidate?

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Permalink Reply by JoeW on October 1, 2016 at 14:07

Green Lanes would be an amazing town centre if it could be made, say, buses and access only. You'd have to do it in a way which didn't increase the traffic on neighbouring residential sidestreets though - what's your plan Nick?

Personally I'd support any package of measures which have the effect of reducing traffic to below say 1000 vehicles per day on the residential side-streets i.e. a level which positively encourages walking and cycling for those who are able, also reducing pollution and generally improving everyone's quality of life.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Fowler on October 7, 2016 at 10:06

I worked for a number of years in transport network analysis, planning etc. I still try to keep up with current thinking. If you build a new road, to reduce traffic congestion, then more people use road transport, and the extra capacity fills up quickly; traffic speeds go back to where they were before the new road. If a road is closed, usually between a third and half of the traffic does just "disappear". The journeys are simply no longer made. Of course, the remaining traffic is displaced to other routes, making them more crowded. But as congestion on those routes becomes slower, so the number of vehicles and journeys flattens out. All building new roads, especially in urban areas, does is to increase the number of people using vehicles, especially private motor cars.

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