A car-sharing lane covering the majority of Paris’ ring road (périphérique) comes into force today – March 3 – affecting millions of drivers who use the major road to enter or traverse the capital.
Covering most of the northern section of the ring road, lanes in both directions are limited to vehicles with at least one passenger – as well as to public transport, emergency service, licensed taxis and ride share vehicles (for ride share vehicles the passenger must already be in the car to use the lane).
Similar lanes have also been introduced on stretches the A1 and A12/13 motorways.
The change comes after a zone à trafic limité limited traffic zone (ZTL) was set up in the city centre in November 2024 and stricter anti-pollution measures came into force on January 1, 2025.
Originally introduced for the Olympics last summer, these voies réservées have been repurposed into lanes aiming to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Figures from Paris City Hall claim that around 80% of drivers using the ring road are alone in their vehicles, and the option to use a dedicated car-sharing lane will drive up the number of people who share a vehicle or opt to use public transport to avoid increased traffic times.
Initially, the lanes will only operate during rush hour although the hours they are in force may be extended later.
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The location and times of the car-sharing lanes are as follows:
Paris ring road between ‘Portes de Sèvres’ (15th arrondissement) and ‘Bercy’ (12th arrondissement) – between 07:00 to 10.30 and 16:00 to 20:00
A1 between Stade de France and Gonnesse – 17:00 to 18:30 in the direction leaving Paris, 06:30 to 10:00 coming into Paris
A12/A13 from Bailly into Paris – 07:00 to 10:00
The lanes will be on the left-hand side of the roads, closest to the central barrier.
Currently, the lanes will only be in place on Monday - Friday (except for public holidays).
The small southern section of the périphérique not currently affected by the car-sharing lane will see one implemented in the future, Paris City Hall has announced although it did not give a launch date.
The map below shows where the limit is in force on the ring road and where it will be extended at a later date, as well as the two other affected roads
Ville de Paris
The restrictions on using the lane can be lifted in instances of an emergency on the road or severe traffic, the mayor’s office has said.
Will there be penalties?
Signs have been put up informing drivers along the roads in question of the new system. You can see examples of the signs below:
Ville de Paris
Ville de Paris
The introduction of the lane will coincide with an ‘educational period’ where those incorrectly using it will be informed of their error.
This will last until May 1 – after this, drivers incorrectly using the lane risk a €135 fine.
Infrared Cameras will be used to assess the type of vehicle using the lanes as well as the number of people in a car.
They will also be able to read number plates of vehicles breaking the rules, giving the authorities a way to contact those in contravention of the restrictions.
The area around the ring road is “the most polluted area of the capital,” according to mayor Anne Hidalgo, who says 500,000 people live in its vicinity.
“The number of ultrafine particles on the ring road is 2 to 2.5 times higher than the levels observed in the capital's urban areas,” says the Paris City Hall.
The improvements are being made “‘particularly for people who live next to the ring road, who are the poorest (...) they are single-parent families, single women. These are the people who are breathing polluted air today,” said deputy mayor David Belliard to Franceinfo.
However, the measures are controversial and have faced backlash.
Driving association 40 millions d'automobilistes is demanding reviews on the efficiency of the system from June.
The president of the association has asked the Transport Ministry to “take up the issue so that responsibility for managing the ring road is transferred to the region or the state,” and not the local Paris government.
