What is the ZTL?
Limited Traffic Zones, more commonly known as ZTLs, are designed to promote soft mobility such as bicycles, walking and scooters. Mainly used by major cities to progressively ban vehicles, these ZTLs are the spearhead of current ecological political programs.
To encourage soft mobility, ZTLs allow lanes to be reserved for specific categories of users. Vehicles authorized to circulate are considered essential for smooth operation, such as buses, tradesmen and delivery personnel. Transit traffic, i.e. traffic that does not stop when crossing a zone, is prohibited. The ultimate aim of these ZTLs is to clean up pollution in major cities and limit the noise nuisance generated by excessive traffic.
Today, many cities, including Nantes, Rome and Madrid, use this system in their operations. ZTLs are both attractive and effective. In Nantes, for example, traffic has been divided by three since 2012 from 15,000 to 5,000 vehicles a day.
In Paris, ZTLs are due to be introduced in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th arrondissements and parts of the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements in the second half of 2022.. This change would affect a large proportion of businesses located in the center, a first for ZTLs, which have not yet been implemented on such a high density.
The consequences of changing mobility
Limiting car traffic also has consequences for motorists.
But what are the risks if you don't respect the ZTLs?
Failure to respect the limited traffic zone is an offence punishable by a fine of around 100 euros. Motorists are therefore warned: crossing a ZTL is not without risk for the wallet.
A change of mobility will therefore be necessary for many users, who will have to give priority to public transport or other "soft" forms of mobility to get around the center of Paris.
What's the impact on Parisian life?
Shops are apprehensive about the introduction of the ZTL in central Paris. With more than 15% of businesses would be affected, the risk incurred by the development of the ZTL would be a reduction in the frequentation of certain businesses, as mobility would be too restrictive to get to this zone.
Key information to remember
The main objectives of ZTLs:
- limit pollution
- limit noise pollution caused by vehicles
- improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists
- facilitate traffic flow for authorized users
The first French city to benefit from the ZTL was Nantes in 2012.
The Paris ZTL project is scheduled for the second half of 2022 in the center of Paris.
In short, ZTLs represent a real step forward in terms of urban pollution control, but not without controversy, given the current pressure on businesses. The stakes are therefore ecological and economic, but also social through the essential evolution of mobility.
To find out more, take a look at our article on the end of combustion-powered cars, which also deals with Low Emission Zones (ZFE), which follow the trend of limiting polluting vehicles in major cities.
