It's a tough time for drivers in Lyon... To deal with state budget cuts, the City of Lyon is considering making parking paid in August and on certain Sundays while extending it until 8 PM instead of the current 7 PM. Goodbye to the free summer parking on the streets during August and those relaxed Sundays... In total, eight Sundays a year could become paid. These proposals, found in a decision-making document consulted by Tribune de Lyon, are presented as one of the last resorts to avoid touching local taxes.
If this measure goes through, it would mark a real turning point for Lyon. Free parking in August is a tradition that eased the burden for drivers staying in the city… but the municipality, led by eco-friendly mayor Grégory Doucet, believes choices must be made to fill the 25 million euros in budget cuts.
posées par l’État.Economies… and big sacrifices
Beyond parking, other budget cuts could impact the daily lives of Lyon residents... The cultural budget might drop by 5%, and some major events, like the fireworks on July 14th, could simply disappear. Even pools and ice rinks won't be spared: entrance fees could increase by 18% for the full rate, which means an extra 60 cents.
With these proposals, the municipal team is walking on eggshells. Criticism is already flying against the planned removal of free parking, and these new measures are likely to increase unpopularity among the residents. Grégory Doucet will have to make decisions in the coming weeks, but one thing is for sure: these choices won't go unnoticed and could hit people's wallets hard if adopted by the municipality.
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