Attention to all urban stroll lovers and outdoor aperitif enthusiasts: Lyon is getting ready to offer a little piece of Barcelona to the residents of the 2nd arrondissement. The Cours Charlemagne, the true backbone of Confluence, will swap cars for pedestrians, trees, and benches for some chill time. Yes, you read that right: starting this summer, work will begin to transform 6000 m² between Quai Antoine-Riboud and Rue Paul-Montrochet into a "rambla" Lyon-style.
The idea? To soothe an area that has become a real pedestrian hub since the arrival of the T2 tram, and soon the Express Tram from Western Lyon. But there's no way they’ll do it half-heartedly: the Lyon Metropolis is bringing out the heavy artillery to reinvent the space. On the shopping center and dock side: a beautiful pedestrian promenade 10 meters wide, complete with shade structures for relaxation!
o;shade, picnic tables for breaks, and lounge furniture for a leisurely urban slow life.A public consultation open until May 4
In the center, the tramway lanes will be enhanced by a large tree-lined pedestrian square in front of the shopping center — no more poorly designed ramps and sidewalks, here you can stroll like in Barcelona, minus the tapas (for now). On the Regional Hotel side, cyclists will have their green highway: a 4-meter-wide two-way lane lined with trees and benches, leading all the way to François-Mitterrand square.
© Bigbang Paysage Urba
The locals have already started sharing their thoughts on urban furniture: tables, lounges, and two-seat benches are leading the way. The public consultation is open until May 4th — plenty of time for the last skeptics (or urban nap enthusiasts) to get inspired. One thing's for sure: the Charlemagne course version 2030 is set to be way more chill than a traffic jam at rush hour.
Source: Le Progrès