In Lyon, sometimes just 250 meters are enough to spark a political storm. Since its closure to cars as part of the well-known Low Traffic Zone (ZTL) in the summer of 2025, Grenette Street, located between the Maréchal-Juin bridge and the Cordeliers square, has become the center of all tensions regarding city center traffic.
Shopkeepers, residents, citizen groups, pro-cycling associations, and drivers all have their say about this ultra-strategic artery of the 2nd district. For some, the pedestrianization has brought fresh air and calm to the city center. For others, it symbolizes a part of Lyon that has become inaccessible by car. As a result, Grenette Street has established itself as one of the major topics of the local elections and a constant battleground between the City and the Metropolitan area.
Grégory Doucet is outpacing everyone
While the Metropolitan area of Lyon was supposed to announce “...Here are the conditions for a possible reopening to cars. The ecologist mayor, Grégory Doucet, has decided to take the lead. On April 30, the City of Lyon launched a public consultation to gather the opinions of residents, users, and shopkeepers until May 30.
Accessible on the Oyé platform, this 11-question survey aims to assess the usage and feelings nearly a year after the creation of the reserved lane. It's a way for the municipality to show that it continues to advocate for a more peaceful vision of the city center, despite the criticisms. However, this initiative has clearly not brought smiles to everyone.
The Metropolis calls to “take action.”
On the side of the Lyon Metropolis, the response was immediate and rather curt. The institution called for an end to the so-called citizen consultations, believing that this type of engagement had already shown its limits during the previous term. Implicitly, the Metropolis suggests it's time to move forward concretely on traffic issues. And especially to meet the expectations of some residents and shopkeepers who are asking for the return of cars on this strategically important east-west route.
Beyond cars, Grenette Street really highlights two opposing visions of Lyon. On one hand, a greener city that's walkable and less reliant on vehicles. On the other, a metropolis that wants to maintain accessibility and economic activity in the city center. And inevitably, with delivery drivers, shopkeepers, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists all in the mix, the equation can sometimes seem quite tricky!
It's like playing a game of Tetris during rush hour.