-
Heritage Days in France: ideas for visits this weekend plus photos
Over 2,000 sites are set to welcome visitors for free on September 20 and 21
-
A comprehensive guide to living in Lyon
Discover everything you need to know about living in Lyon, from transport options and safety tips to housing prices and education opportunities
-
Row over porn access as Free adds VPN to French mobile contracts
Virtual private networks may allow users to bypass age verification laws
New mayor plans to make Bordeaux car-free
The new mayor of Bordeaux (Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), Pierre Hurmic, is moving “towards a ban” on cars in the city, he has said.

Mr Hurmic, a member of green party Europe Écologie Les Verts, was recently elected mayor of the city.
In an interview with news source 20 Minuteshe said: “I don’t want to ban cars [in the city]…even if, in time I think we are moving towards a ban.”
Justifying his position, he added: “In city planning, 70% of roads are dedicated to cars, but car journeys only represent 29% of journeys in Bordeaux.”
Read more: Greens surge to victory in French local elections
Read more: Best towns in France for families revealed
Measures to reduce car-use
However, he added, making the city car-free would be something that happened “gently”, beginning with measures to incentivise other forms of transport.
He envisaged prioritising walking and cycling in the city centre (secteur intra-boulevard), to progressively dissuade cars from entering the area.
The mayor also plans to increase the number of cycle lanes in Bordeaux by conserving those put in place during the Covid-19 crisis.
He said: “On the boulevards, I suggest cycle lanes that run the whole length rather than shorter sections. We need cycle lanes that are continuous and secure.”
Related stories
Drivers in France still drive dangerously – but a bit better
France invests €20m in a post-Covid bike revolution
France tempts people back on to bikes after lockdown
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France