According to Reuters, Paris is aiming to ban hop-on, hop-off tourist double-deckers from the city centre to spur visitors to walk, cycle or take public transport, tackling complaints about nuisances caused by mass tourism, the French capital’s Deputy Mayor has said.
Emmanuel Gregoire told Le Parisien newspaper that the situation in Paris was not as bad as in tourist-swamped Venice or Barcelona, but Parisians were concerned about the influx of tourist buses. “We no longer want the total anarchy of tourist buses in Paris…Buses are no longer welcome in the very heart of the city,” he said, adding that the city was awaiting new legislation to reduce bus traffic and would put in place parking spots outside the city so that buses no longer drive into the centre.
France’s new law on mobility will give local authorities more powers to regulate local traffic and new transport options such as rented bicycles and electric scooters. “Tourists can do like everyone else does and switch to environmentally friendly mobility options or take public transport,” said Emmanuel. “We need change.”
