Paris Implements Carpooling Lane on Périphérique to Combat Pollution

The new lane, active during rush hours, aims to reduce traffic and air pollution but faces criticism from opposition and drivers.

Starting March 3, the leftmost lane of the Paris Périphérique is reserved during rush hours for vehicles with at least two passengers, public transport, taxis, emergency vehicles, and vehicles for persons with reduced mobility.
The initiative, part of Paris's broader plan to transform the Périphérique into an urban boulevard, seeks to curb pollution and noise affecting 500,000 nearby residents.
A two-month educational phase will precede enforcement, with fines of €135 for violators beginning May 1, monitored through AI-assisted video systems.
Critics, including regional leaders, argue the measure could worsen traffic congestion in surrounding areas and highlight a lack of public consensus.
The city cites prior traffic and pollution reductions from speed limit changes and plans to monitor the experiment's impact through periodic evaluations.