Angelique Chrisafis delivers the fantastic news that, after more than four decades of auto dominance, Paris is returning its riverfront to its people in a "pedestrian 'reconquest' of the banks of the Seine."
After being blocked by former right-wing prime minister François Fillon, the French capital's Socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoë "has won his quest to break up the two-lane urban
motorway that has run along the edge of the Seine since the 1960s, and
return Paris's riverside world heritage sites to walkers and cyclists," writes Chrisafis.
Opened in 1967 by Georges Pompidou, the Seine's riverside expressways will be turned over to pedestrians, bars and cafes beginning next month. By next spring, the centerpiece of the €40m project will be unveiled: "a 2.5km car-free zone on the left bank, between the Musée d'Orsay and
the Pont de l'Alma, with a riverside park, pedestrian promenades,
floating botanic gardens, flower-market barges, sports courts,
restaurants and even perhaps an archipelago of artificial islands."
According to Chrisafis, "Delanoë promised his new scheme would 'give Parisians back their river', 'profoundly change' the city and provide 'an opportunity for happiness'
for residents. But the mayor, who will not stand for re-election in
2014, also has an eye on his legacy, seeking to be remembered as the man
who finally ended Parisian reverence to the car. He has expanded cycle
routes and introduced the city's famous short-term bike-hire and
car-hire schemes."
FULL STORY: Paris to return Seine to the people with car-free riverside plan
Battle Over Closure of Paris Expressways
A political battle is brewing in Paris, where the city's mayor wants to close off sections of roadway along the River Seine, a move that President Nicholas Sarkozy is against.
Paris 'Beach' Opens
The annual transformation of riverbanks to beaches has begun in Paris, where the River Seine becomes a widely visited outdoor public space known as Paris Plages.
River Seine ‘Teeming’ With Life
Decades of restoration efforts are yielding positive results as dozens of species of fish return to the once-polluted waterway.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service