As part of the “metropolitan cycling plan,” the city hall is closing the Promenade des Anglais to vehicular and motorized traffic this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With more than 4,000 daily passages, the Prom’ des Anglais is a strategic point to initiate the cycling plan. Since 2018, the Nice-Côte d’Azur metropolis has focused its concerns on sustainable mobility. Between trams, park-and-ride facilities, and 100% electric buses, it offers various ecological alternatives to car use. It is with this perspective that the Nice-Côte d’Azur cycling plan was launched on July 23, 2020. The goal is to “make people discover or rediscover the bicycle as an economical mode of transport, beneficial for our environment and health,” emphasizes Camille Saad, press officer of the Metropolis. The department boasts over 179 kilometers of bike paths.
The city in green
As of this Sunday, July 4, the promenade between Boulevard Gambetta and Avenue Max-Gallo will be accessible by foot or bicycle. Several other Sundays will be dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. This initiative is part of the “urban transport master plan 2040, but also the climate plan which provides for the decarbonization of travels and a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030,” reminds us Camille Saad. A decision well received by some locals, like Pierre, “the environment really needs it, and so do we. Besides contributing to our health, this movement helps us save fuel.” To further encourage public investment in the project, Nice is offering subsidies ranging from 100 to 200 euros for the purchase of electric-assisted bicycles.
The practice of cycling involves strengthening the parking offer
Christian Estrosi is undertaking the renovation of all facilities to ensure the safety of cyclists. Secure bike parking lots have already been delivered. Closed and secure parking equipment will be installed in public spaces along with spaces and rooms for bicycles. The goal is 11,000 spaces by 2026. For people with reduced mobility, ten tricycles will be available this year with two parking spaces on the Promenade des Anglais in July. Additionally, numerous recreational or sporting activities are planned, such as the bike festival and bike week, as well as workshops on parking and repair. The metropolitan area will offer bike marking to residents of the Alpes-Maritimes to combat bike theft.
