Much of the city’s most dramatic progress in taming traffic has taken the form of infrastructure changes, as street space for cars in the city’s heart has been steadily carved away. Several major squares and intersections have been transformed, replacing vehicle lanes with more sidewalks and greenery. In 2022, the Rue de Rivoli — central Paris’ main east-west axis — saw most cars removed to create a central bike highway and pedestrian promenade. Authorities have also nudged vehicles out via tighter parking regulations, such new fees for oversized vehicles like SUVs.

So while the ZTL will still allow some cars in, they will be entering a zone where their ability to get around has already been strictly limited.