New carsharing lane to come into service on Paris ring road

A carsharing lane will be implemented on Paris’ périphérique ring road from next month onwards, officials at the town hall have announced. 

A voie réservée limiting the number of vehicles permitted on certain lanes of the road was initially used during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

One of the legacy projects of the Olympics, previous plans to keep the lanes in place after the Games faced fierce opposition from both drivers and government making it seem as if the move had been shelved. 

However, Paris City Hall announced that the lane will come into effect from March 3, covering the vast northern section between the ‘portes de Sèvres’ (15th arrondissement) and ‘Bercy’ (12th arrondissement). 

It is seen as yet another move by outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo to reduce the number of cars in and around the city. 

Other recent ventures include a reduction of the speed limit on the ring road, alongside making central parts of Paris widely car-free. 

Read more: Angry drivers launch court action against 50 km/h speed limit on Paris ring road

Read more: Important changes for drivers in central Paris from November 4

What are the rules? 

The carsharing lane will initially come into effect Monday - Friday between 07:00 to 10.30 and 16:00 to 20:00 (not during public holidays). These times may be extended in the future.

During these hours the designated lane will be limited to the following vehicles: 

• Vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes carrying at least one passenger

• Buses and other public transport vehicles

• Taxis 

• Rideshare vehicles on apps such as Uber and Bolt carrying at least one passenger 

• Emergency service vehicles 

Regarding the latter, the system will be temporarily lifted during serious accidents to prevent traffic build-up. 

The system can also be halted during periods of heavy traffic to allow all vehicles to use the lane until traffic clears up. 

A two-month ‘education period’ for people to get used to the new rules will apply until May 1, after which fines of €135 can be issued to drivers using the carsharing lane if not belonging to one of the above categories.

Some motorways see similar changes 

In addition to the ring road, some motorways around Paris will see carsharing lanes implemented, each coming into force for a limited number of hours per day.

These are: 

• 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 

These will also initially only apply during weekdays. 

Speed limits on affected stretches of the motorway during periods when the carsharing lanes are in place will also be reduced, although the full details of by how much will be included in the upcoming decree on the matter.

Read more: Speed limits to be lowered on more Paris roads from November 

Backlash for plans 

Estimates are that up to 80% of drivers using the ring road are alone in their vehicles. 

However, the plans are facing criticism from both drivers and officials in the region. 

President of the wider Île-de-France region Valérie Pécresse believes the lanes will lead to a “risk of massive traffic jams at the gates of Paris” and “an increase in air pollution,” as quoted in Le Parisien. 

The former presidential candidate insists that carsharing lanes remain “experimental” and “reversible”. 

Read more: Four changes for drivers in France in February 2025