For a few years now, the role of cars has been discussed more and more in the city for reasons of safety and ecology. Measures are multiplying to protect those who embrace gentle mobility, and especially to make room for pedestrians and cyclists in every space of the city, including on the riverbanks. So, will the future mayor of Paris plan to continue this project?
A Major Issue
One thing is for sure, regardless of the candidates and their political affiliations, the Seine riverbanks will be a central point of this election. According to the programs of Rachida Dati (LR), Emmanuel Grégoire (PS) and Ian Brossat (PCF) all have the plan to put this issue at the heart of the campaign, continuing the momentum of the policies established by Anne Hidalgo and aiming for a simple goal: to make this space so cherished by Parisians, especially for pedestrians. And for this, everyone agrees on another point: while, for the past few years, cars have been largely banned from part of the quays, it's far from enough.
À Paris, la réduction de la place de la voiture a permis de réduire d’un quart les émissions de gaz à effet de serre depuis 10 ans.
— Ian Brossat (@IanBrossat) November 16, 2025
Nous voulons aller plus loin avec de nouveaux espaces dédiés aux piétons avec par exemple des voies sur berges XXL. pic.twitter.com/1oP0FTB2EW
Transforming the banks into a green paradise
On the side of the leftist candidates, it’s quite simple: the project is the same, as it was imagined together by the two men for a few years now. For them, there’s just one goal: to create a 12 km pedestrian pathway along the Seine, compared to the mere 3 km currently available, spread across the high quays or the banks. Following the model of the green belt, they wish to transform the entire right bank into a vast green promenade, starting from eastern Paris, between Bastille and Bercy. In a second phase, this green highway should connect to the Garigliano bridge in the 16th, at the Bercy park.
Les quais bas sont dégradés, mal entretenus, livrés au provisoire qui dure.
— Rachida Dati ن (@datirachida) November 16, 2025
Je veux en faire un grand parc urbain patrimonial: des espaces pour les familles, les sportifs, les promeneurs. Nous les réaménagerons avec des matériaux nobles, des arbres en pleine terre. #Paris2026 pic.twitter.com/GMohKczN5c
For the right-wing candidate, who is currently the Minister of Culture and the mayor of the 7th arrondissement, it’s the same fight. Her main goal? To ease relations between different road users, which she believes, like many Parisians, are too tense. To achieve this, Rachida Dati plans to transform the lower quays into a 100% pedestrian space, eliminating the presence of cyclists. Cyclists will be redirected to existing bike lanes on the upper quays. Similarly, she aims to green this major space in the capital to create a pleasant area open to everyone.