Since the start of the municipal election campaign in Paris, this has been one of the topics on which differences have appeared strongest, and points of view irreconcilable. A quasi-ideological debate, often caricatured, between the right-wingers who are quick to restore the ubiquity of cars and the “anti-car” leftists who are committed to all cycling.
What if, at the end of the day, four months before the election, everyone (almost) agrees on transportation? When detailing her plans for mobility in the capital this weekend, Rachida Dati, the far-right candidate in Paris, was content with a consensus proposal, which on paper her left-wing opponents would not deny.
It’s a far cry from the first declaration of the Minister of Culture who promised, in March 2025, to review everything regarding transport issues. In one of the “working meetings” – which Le Parisien was able to attend – the mayor of the 7th arrondissement promised, if he was elected, to carry out a “global reflection on the development of Paris”.
A symbol of the great upheaval to come? Trail by the river. “I integrated it into the overall traffic plan because you cannot open a section without considering the rest of Paris,” Rachida Dati explained that evening. In the 7th century, for example, we have reversibility clauses. »
XXL bank line
Should this be seen as reflecting the return of traffic on certain platforms in the future? No, the minister’s camp was quickly cleared of mines. Eight months later, it is clear that the candidate’s ambitions for the banks of the Seine are much more measured.
Like the two left-wing candidates (communist Ian Brossat and socialist Emmanuel Grégoire), Rachida Dati now proposes to transform the cities and turn them into “major cultural heritage urban parks.” At the same time, Emmanuel Grégoire (who could not immediately respond to our request) outlined in the columns of the regional daily Ouest-France his project for the banks of the Seine, which he wants to turn into “a large and environmentally friendly pedestrian bank”.
A project reminiscent of that of Ian Brossat, who announced in our columns, in March 2025, his XXL bank line project of more than 12 km.
Will Rachida Dati adopt this vision of the Paris docks? After all, the representatives of the elected majority are not wrong when they know about the project. “This is already much better than the promised return of cars in 2020,” joked Ariel Weil, Mayor (PS) of Paris Center on his X account.
This is already much better than the promised return to cars in 2020. On the other hand, the slabs, umbrellas and even the chosen vegetation are in conflict with cultural heritage regulations for protected areas: the Minister of Culture will not be able to allow it! https://t.co/dTV4ElpgDz
— Ariel Weil (@ArielWeilT) November 17, 2025
“Changes like this still come at the cost of great convenience because, because they don’t work much, they quickly do the work that has been done by others,” the councilor explained to Le Parisien. We tried to synthesize all possible clients without really having a guide. »
“It would be better if Parisian far-right groups copied our program”
Of course, there are some important differences regarding the rue de Rivoli, a legendary artery in the capital where Rachida Dati plans to expand her sidewalks. The existing cycle lane, which is often considered too wide, will be split in two, leaving two lanes of traffic: one lane specifically for buses, and the other lane for local services.
The proposal was quickly derided by its left-wing opponents, but in reality it is almost identical to the recommendations of a recent study carried out by a city planning agency that proposed making the Rue de Rivoli “a pedestrian street of Paris”.
widened sidewalks,
two way bicycle lane,
Lanes for buses,
Local service roads.This is my project for rue de Rivoli which will be an opportunity for aesthetic and heritage reconquest. #Paris2026 pic.twitter.com/xFWZwr8n5P
— Rachida Dati ن (@datirachida) November 17, 2025
The report specifically recommends creating “a real sidewalk on the north bank (5.5 m wide) and a the space given to bicycles is reduced to 7 m wide.” Like Rachida Dati, this research also shows that buses benefit from their own traffic lanes.
“It would be better if the Paris right wing imitated our program, because after much resistance, they gave up on reason and historical meaning,” Ariel Weil still mocked. Speaking to Le Parisien, David Belliard, the environmentalist candidate and deputy currently in charge of mobility, had nothing more to say: “We could have expected worse,” he admitted of his rival project. He systematically goes against everything and here he tells us: I won’t repeat it. »
“Chameleon project”
However, a program that appears to be more consensual and should not be cheated, warns green candidates. “This is a chameleon project,” says David Belliard. He made people believe that he wouldn’t get back on the bike, that pedestrians were the center of his attention, that’s a big joke! »
“If it’s sincere, it’s better,” agrees Ariel Weil. But we have the right to doubt it when we know that he is one of those who have taken legal action to get back on track at the bank several years ago…”
“Just like social housing, there are beautiful letters, letters of intent, and there are realities,” ironically quipped Ian Brossat’s group. How can we simultaneously claim to want to protect pedestrians and return SUVs and cars to the Rue de Rivoli? »
“Cuckoo politics”
Renaissance-backed candidate Pierre-Yves Bournazel also carefully read his rival’s proposal. “It is the policy of cuckoos to steal other birds’ nests,” said an elected official (Horizon) in the Council of Paris with a laugh. But I’m glad that other people are coming to the subject that I pursue so persistently. »
Édouard’s protégé Philippe – who wanted to be the champion of the two, “faced with all the motorbikes of the outgoing team and all the cars kept by Madame Dati” – liked to remember that he was the only elected opposition official to support the riverside track project for a long time. “Today, we cannot oppose the development of banks,” he said in our column in 2011.
