New mayor plans to make Bordeaux car-free

The new mayor of Bordeaux (Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), Pierre Hurmic, is moving 鈥渢owards a ban鈥� on cars in the city, he has said.

Joanna York

Published Thursday 02 July 2020 - 12:42 Modified Thursday 02 July 2020 - 12:42

Mr Hurmic, a member of green party Europe 脡cologie Les Verts, was recently elected mayor of the city.

In an interview with he said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to ban cars [in the city]鈥ven if, in time I think we are moving towards a ban.鈥�

Justifying his position, he added: 鈥淚n city planning, 70% of roads are dedicated to cars, but car journeys only represent 29% of journeys in Bordeaux.鈥�

Measures to reduce car-use

However, he added, making the city car-free would be something that happened 鈥済ently鈥�, beginning with measures to incentivise other forms of transport.

He envisaged prioritising walking and cycling in the city centre (secteur intra-boulevard), to progressively dissuade cars from entering the area.

The mayor also plans to increase the number of cycle lanes in Bordeaux by conserving those put in place during the Covid-19 crisis.

He said: 鈥淥n the boulevards, I suggest cycle lanes that run the whole length rather than shorter sections. We need cycle lanes that are continuous and secure.鈥�

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