Traffic Taming Parisian Style

Living part of the year in a pied-à-terre in the shadow of Montmartre and Sacré Coeur adds to my understanding of good urban life.  This is my neighborhood and my corner cafe.  Welcome to life in Paris.




Paris is known for its terrible traffic.  No one wants to drive here.  In Paris I live on this corner of Boulevard Rochechoart  just south of the famous Sacré Coeur.  Despite all the traffic, I find that this busy boulevard has been tamed and is easy for pedestrians to cross, even in the middle of the block.  How did Paris do this?  What can we learn from it.  Several things:

First, reduce vehicle speeds.  Reducing speed increases pedestrian safety.  The probability of a pedestrian receiving a fatal injury is 3.5% at 15 mph, 37% at 31 mph, and 83% at 44 mph.  And reasonable reductions in design speed do not interfere with the traffic capacity of the roadway  Traffic engineers will confirm that the greatest traffic capacity of the roadway is at a speed of about 30 mph.  Higher speeds decrease safety without improving roadway capacity.

Narrower traffic lanes.  Paris uses narrower traffic lanes than in the US.  Traffic engineers will confirm that narrowing the travel lane reduces speed more effectively than speed limit signs.  It is human nature for us to drive at what we perceive to be a safe speed, and narrower lanes make us more cautious.  Narrower lanes and the slower speeds they produce also make it safer and more comfortable and convenient for pedestrians.  Crossing a 10’ lane is safer and easier than crossing a 14’ one.

Pedestrian safety islands.  They give pedestrians a safe haven so they can cross a wide street safely and comfortably one lane at a time.

Generous medians that welcome people and even provide pedestrian amenities like landscaping, benches, and even kiosks.

Bicycle safety.  With lower speeds bicycles can operate more safely with the normal traffic lanes without requiring separated bicycle facilities.

The result is a boulevard that is full of cars, yet much safer and more comfortable for people than the auto-dominated American equivalent.