Motorists are not impatient as the 2024 Olympic Games approach. On the contrary: a series of obstacles awaits them from July 26 to August 11 – but also from August 28 to September 8, the date of the Paralympics. Enough to push local residents, driving schools or taxis to go on vacation… The new rules were detailed by the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, in an interview with Parisian, this Wednesday, November 29. What system will apply and above all what will be the mandatory exemptions for traveling in certain areas in Paris? For months, the prefecture has been developing an action plan. Almost street by street.
For those who work and live near the sites, the consequences will be severe. “The principle is the ban on motorized traffic, and the exception, the exemption,” warned the Paris police prefect. What exactly are we talking about? Traffic will be restricted in certain perimeters established around the competition areas.
Consequently, Ile-de-France will be divided into several color zones. In red, the places where traffic will be prohibited, unless exempted. They concern, for example, the surroundings of the Stade de France, the Parc des Princes or even the Place de la Concorde. There will then be blue zones where traffic will be regulated to avoid “transit traffic”.
Please note, not everyone will be authorized to use these passageways: only people who live, work or want to go to a business or restaurant in this area. And for the opening ceremony? The prefecture still serves the screw. Traffic will be prohibited in a larger area and the protection perimeter will be put in place several days before July 26.
Sites closed to traffic “a little before the Games”
Note that the launch date of the restrictions will depend on the areas. The general rule: these perimeters will be in place during the competition. But some areas with ephemeral sites, such as in the center of Paris, at Trocadéro or at Place de la Concorde, will see their access restricted earlier. “There are assembly and dismantling phases to be planned” and “the sites will be closed to traffic shortly before the Games,” explained Laurent Nuñez.
Other important information: will these restrictions be continued? Here too, it all depends on the geographical location. “They will only be activated during competitions, 2.5 hours before the start of the events and up to one hour afterwards. There will just be the particular case of the Olympic village in Saint-Denis. Restrictions around Paris Center, for example , could be effective from 6:30 a.m. to midnight,” replied the police chief. For pedestrians or cyclists, no worries since these areas will remain free of access. The limitations only concern motorized vehicles.
And what about exemptions? Who will be able to benefit from it? The red zones will be accessible to “residents who have parking lots, those who visit vulnerable people, emergency and rescue vehicles, recovery vehicles, etc.”, listed Laurent Nuñez. As for taxis and VTCs, flexibility is required: they will be able to access red zones if they drop someone off, provided they show credentials and have proof. For blue zones, you simply need to be able to justify the reason for your trip.
A QR Code to get around
And the list of people exempt from restrictions could grow longer since it must be validated “with a public who will be received in Paris and in the prefectures departments of Ile-de-France hosting Olympic and Paralympic events. We will check that it corresponds to the reality of economic life”, clarified once again Laurent Nuñez. His watchword: no one must be forgotten.
Those affected by the exemption will have to register on a digital platform and provide various supporting documents. An approach to be carried out before the Olympic Games when the platform should open in March. All you will have to do is show a QR code during checks for the red perimeters. Do you want to watch the Olympics from a friend’s window? You will need to register it on the platform. For fans of “non-digital”, the Paris town hall and other municipalities are considering the possibility of obtaining a badge or proof. For the blue perimeter, there is no need to pre-register.