Will this European capital ban cars?

After reinventing itself over the centuries to deal with pandemics, Paris could soon become one of the first major cities to limit the use of cars.

Paris isn't new to radical urban projects. In fact, the city's look and feel is largely the result of urban renewal programmes that have been modelled by previous pandemics over the centuries. Now, as the City of Light slowly begins to emerge from nationwide lockdowns, some politicians and officials are considering closing many of the capital's streets to cars in order to improve air pollution and traffic congestion.

The idea, known as the "15-Minute City", aims to bring people closer to the places they care about by transforming urban areas into multi-use spaces and reducing the amount of time it takes to go from one place to another. By prioritising pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation over autos, Paris could find itself once again at the forefront of the world's urban design.

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