Paris to Begin Serious Car Restrictions on July 1

The carefree days of driving any-old-junker-they-please are over for Parisians, and they'll be even further obsolete when the calendar changes from June to July.

1 minute read

June 3, 2016, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Paris Skyline

VLADJ55 / Shutterstock

"If your car was built before 1997, don’t even think about driving it into Paris after this month," proclaims a post by Feagus O'Sullivan for CityLab. "From July 1, the French capital will ban vehicles older than 19 years from driving in the city on workdays."

O'Sullivan describes the new driving regulations as "some of the toughest restrictions on drivers" in any European city, prescribed to counter worsening air pollution in the famous city. The new policy has persevered a tough political process, with the city's socialist mayor pushing back on the national government, and periodic driving bans.  

The post includes more details of the current driving restrictions, as well as what to expect from the ongoing implementation of future, and even more strict, restrictions.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 in CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

45 minutes ago - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View up at brick Catholic church towers and modern high-rise buildings.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation

Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.

1 hour ago - NBC Dallas

Converted garage to housing unit in London, UK.

Grand Rapids Mayor Proposes Garage Conversion Plan

The mayor says allowing homeowners to convert garages to dwelling units could alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

2 hours ago - Fox 17