Paris is throwing some serious muscle into winning the green transportation race and they’re now even considering banning high polluting vehicles from their streets. With their already successful Velib bike sharing program and their soon to launch electric car share program and their world class metro, this addition of tough restrictions on heavy polluters like SUVs and old diesel vehicles is yet another awesome way that the city of lights is making its way to a low emissions future.
Denis Baupin, an environmental official in the mayor’s office, told RTL Radio that if you’re a Parisian with a gas guzzler, you should “sell it and buy a vehicle that’s compatible with city life. I’m sorry, but having a sport utility vehicle in a city makes no sense.” We have to agree with him on that one. SUVs make it hard to get around the tight corners of any city — never mind Paris’ tiny winding cobblestone streets — and are a nightmare to park. In addition, in cities with pollution problems like Paris — and LA, Tehran and Beijing — they add significantly more to the problem than lil’ autos like the Smart Car or better yet a shiny EV.
The proposed restrictions would likely come in the form of emissions testing and would effect SUVs and old diesel cars most. Though at the moment there is no official plan in place, and nothing has been said about penalties, Baupin seems to be sending a pretty serious message to owners of high-polluting vehicles — Paris doesn’t want your smog.
Via Autoblog Green
