
S.O.S. of distress for some, a cry of relief for others. It’s the big question on the minds of the people of Lyon: what will we be eating with this famous ZLT? Spoiler alert: rest assured, no one will be swallowed whole! But to understand everything, take a couple of minutes to read these few lines.
The Zone à Trafic Limité, a meaningful project to reduce our impact on the environment
We’ve already told you about the launch of a new fleet of electric Vélo’v bicycles that will make it easier for all Lyon residents to get around on two wheels. There was also the roll-out of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE ) in the Lyon Metropole, which has been the subject of much ink recently.
This June, a major new piece of Lyon’s ecological puzzle will come into action: the Zone à Trafic Limité (Z LT). Its objective? To regulate car traffic on the Presqu’île, where no fewer than 545,000 journeys are made every day. While a large proportion of these journeys are made on foot or by bicycle, between 20% and 60% come from through traffic.
The ambition is therefore clear: to drastically reduce these transit flows, and to regulate access for those entitled to it. The perimeter will extend from the north of Bellecour to the bottom of the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse, with the installation of retractable bollards to filter access (the quays of the Rhône and Saône will remain accessible to all vehicles). However, as soon as this measure was announced, many local players, particularly shopkeepers, took to the streets. Their concerns? A drop in traffic and complications for deliveries.
Necessary measures to regulate traffic in downtown Lyon
In the face of criticism, Bruno Bernard, President of the Metropole, is reassuring. In fact, he points out that a ZLT has already been implemented in Bordeaux. In the end, the impact on commercial activity was positive, with renewed dynamism and increased sales.
In concrete terms, traffic permits will be issued to residents and owners of private garages, as well as to people with disabilities. Emergency vehicles (police, firefighters, ambulances) and professionals (tradesmen, construction workers, etc.), as well as cabs and VTCs, will be able to circulate freely 24/7.
Other permits, accessible by registration, will be granted to hotel guests, specific deliveries (pharmacies, night bars, bakeries), businesses requiring goods collection, car-sharing vehicles and patients of healthcare professionals located within the perimeter.
The ultimate goal? Less pollution, less tension between users and a more pleasant, attractive downtown. Inhale, exhale… and all will be well!