On Sunday 23 March, Parisians voted “yes” to a major new plan to turn their city into a ville jardin (garden city).
The proposal includes pedestrianising and greening 500 more streets and removing 10,000 parking spaces—twice as many as have been removed since 2020.
The estimated cost? Around €500,000 per street, totalling nearly €250 million. Residents could also vote on smaller, local topics by arrondissement (borough).
Paris City Hall promoted the vote around three main goals:
• More climate adaptation
• Less pollution
• Better quality of life
What’s the takeaway—and why does it matter for Londoners?
Let’s be honest: from a London perspective, this vote—backed by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who won’t seek re-election in 2026—makes us a little envious. And for two good reasons.
1. The scale of ambition
The first reason is simple: the level of ambition and scale of transformation Parisians were asked to vote on.
Did they want to accelerate the city’s green transition by pedestrianising and greening 500 streets? The answer was yes.
And this isn’t happening in isolation. For those who have visited Paris not so long ago, many streets have already been transformed—like the touristic Rue de Rivoli, once completely dominated by cars and now a haven for bikes and pedestrians—and more are underway, including major landmarks such as the Trocadéro, Butte Montmartre, and Place de la Concorde.
Paris has also introduced over 200 “school streets”, with 100 more planned.
The message is clear: the private car no longer has—nor should it have—a dominant place in the city, except in rare cases. Streets need to be shared differently, even if that means political opposition, resistance (sometimes) from the state, or pushback from residents or certain sectors or groups like motorists. As one of the least green cities in Europe due to its exceptional density and urban concentration, the city has had to rapidly catch up in terms of greening and green infrastructure.
What’s next?
Starting in April, arrondissements will begin selecting which streets to green and pedestrianise. Feasibility studies will follow (up to three years), with construction expected to take place over another three-year period.
2. The power of citizen involvement
The second reason for our envy? The fact that the mayor is actively seeking input from residents—including young people aged 16 and up in this particular vote.
This was the third citywide referendum on green transition issues, following earlier votes on:
• Free-floating e-scooters
• Increased parking fees for SUVs
While the opposition criticised the three votes for their low turnout, there’s something to admire in the fact that leaders are still choosing to consult citizens on complex, structural issues with real financial implications.
And all this on a topic—the environment—that isn’t currently politically popular, but is vital for the future of urban life and future generations.
Comparing with London
As the French saying goes, “Comparaison n’est pas raison”—comparison isn’t everything. But let’s indulge in one anyway.
Paris and London share a lot in common:
• Both are led by progressive mayors
• Both belong to the C40 network of climate-leading cities
• And both are frequently compared—sometimes as rivals, sometimes as allies (in truth, a bit of both)
Having lived in both cities for nearly a decade and now being a true Londoner, I enjoy comparing them. But is this really a contest?
Ambition
Paris is clearly leading the way. Whether it’s water (thanks in part to the Olympics and national government support), air quality, cycling infrastructure, depaving and greening streets, or investing in climate education through its Climate Academy, the city is setting the pace.
Let’s not forget the 15-minute city framework, now widely known—and this latest move on pedestrianisation just adds to the momentum.
Yes, London has its moments: Carnaby Street, Leicester Square, some visionary councils, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, School Streets and of course its parks and green spaces but a majority of Londoners would be right to say: “We want more.”
While the Mayor of London has expressed interest in revamping and pedestrianising Oxford Street (see our recent article on the ongoing consultation), the lack of a clear timeline, the need for further consultations, a confirmed budget, and the risk of further delays make it far less concrete than Paris’ plan.
In short, London’s ambitions don’t yet match Paris’ bold transformation.
Public participation
Paris is also ahead on citizen engagement.
• Three referendums
• An active Citizens’ Assembly (100 Parisians chosen by lottery to review and influence policy)
• Le Dialogue des Parisiens, an online platform for residents to contribute ideas on greening, safety, or the circular economy
• A participatory budget, allowing locals to propose and vote on projects for funding
• And programmes for young people and EU citizens to get involved in decision-making
Compare that with London’s more traditional approach to consultations—often tied to elections, and rarely focused on long-term strategy or structural transformation.
What London could do
It’s not too late for London to catch up. But it will take a serious shift in how we approach climate policy, resident engagement, and political accountability. It would also help if Londoners had a clear vision of the mayor’s long-term plan for the city—and felt that their voices are heard not just during Mayor’s Question Time or elections, but all the time. London never sleeps—so why should consultation be occasional?
What kind of London are we building for the next 10–20 years? We all want a greener, fairer, safer city—but we need a compelling narrative, not just manifesto headlines. And we need a mayor who engages with residents beyond election time and listens to those who want real change. Right now, it’s hard to see how London bridges the gap. But the pieces are there.
They just need to be put together—with ambition, vision, and political will.
