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Soon the return of cars on the Parisian quays?

undefined undefined 20 janvier 2026 undefined 12h00

The Editor

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For a few months now, the candidates for the 2026 municipal elections have been revealing their plans for the capital one after another, in case they win. Some ideas make more sense than others. And this week, a totally wild idea has clearly crossed the mind of one of the mayoral contenders.

The quays, since their pedestrianization a few years ago, have become one of the favorite spots for Parisians. In winter, they offer a stunning walk on sunny days. In summer, it’s a giant terrace open to everyone, where everyone gathers to enjoy a peaceful spot, away from the sometimes tricky traffic a bit further up. But unfortunately, this little paradise between land and sea (or almost, but the Seine is already quite nice) could soon lose some of its charm.


The End of Tranquility

In November 2024, Anne Hidalgo officially announced that she would not run for re-election as the mayor of Paris in 2026. Since then, several political figures have declared their candidacy to try to succeed her, revealing their plans.

sage of more or less acceptable projects to envision the future of the capital. The latest one? Sarah Knafo, candidate from Renaissance, who has also been the first to unveil her complete program.

And the least that can be said is that this latest proposal has some points with which we are not sure we'll agree. Firstly, the return of cars to the banks of the Seine. The concept is simple: reverse the current situation by putting cars back down below, and create new walkways for pedestrians and cyclists on the high banks. The result: cars up top and down below, leading to a lot of noise and pollution. This project is also accompanied by a return to 80 km/h on the highway.


A bouquet of good ideas

In her program, the candidate also plans to help the city save money on housing. To do this, she wants to sell public housing, even though the capital has just reached the 25% of mandatory social housing required by the SRU law. Similarly, there is a plan to eliminate rent control, which could unfairly impact those less fortunate, leaving them facing outrageous rents.

On the public service side, it’s pretty straightforward: cutting the number of civil servants in half, while doubled staff for the municipal police with armed officers, to «crack down on street vendors, illegal occupations, public drunkenness or drug use by bringing offenders to the police station ten times a day if necessary». At least, we know what to expect!