Paris: polluting 2-wheelers in the crosshairs of associations

In their appeal filed with the Administrative Court of Paris, the associations and twenty citizens want the police authorities to control and remove motorized two-wheelers from circulation ” to reduce air pollution and protect public health”, they say.

Article R-318-1 of the Highway Code

The associations cite article R-318-1 of the Highway Code, according to which “motor vehicles must not emit smoke, toxic, corrosive or odorous gases, under conditions likely to inconvenience the population or jeopardize public health and safety”.

” The verbalization and sanction controls on motorized two-wheelers are not currently in place, even though they are a major source of atmospheric and noise pollution “, accuses Tony Renucci, general manager of Respire. 

” The city of Paris must be exemplary and a precursor, within the framework of the Low Emission Zone and in view of the 2024 Olympic Games”, he adds.

” The town hall of Paris and the prefecture take refuge behind the absence of any technical tool available (to verbalize), even though, according to the prefecture, 80% of two wheels are in violation”, underlines Camille Mialot, lawyer of the Respire association.

Laxity of the State according to the town hall of Paris

According to David Belliard, deputy (EELV) for mobility and the transformation of public space, the associations say via this appeal ” that the State has organized laxity on control “. 

“ Macron wanted these ZFEs to be systematic in towns of more than 150,000 inhabitants, but without support measures for the most precarious or automatic sanctions, without the possibility of having an automatic radar to check their sticker. There is a form of laxity on the part of the State from the point of view of motorized 2-wheelers “, continued the

A Parisian elected official, recognizing all the same:

“We still have efforts to make, we, the City, to get out of this logic: we are really going there to put PTWs back into common law in terms of the use of public space and the probability of sanction/control”, underlined Mr. Belliard. 

The town hall of Paris has already planned to set up paid parking for two-wheelers with thermal engines (2WD) on September 1.