The objective was noble… to give more space to pedestrian and two-wheel traffic.
The perpendicular axis, the Quai des États-Unis, which extends the Promenade des Anglais, has given one of its traffic lanes to cyclists.
As a result, the adjacent streets have become overcrowded by cars diverted from Quai Lunel.
Following the strong reactions of neighborhood representatives (for the town hall “observations made”) through letters to the prefect and the threat of an appeal to the Administrative Court (“dialogue engaged”), the municipality partially reversed course (“adjustments”).
The statement defines this “redeployment” in diplomatic terms:
(i) In order to facilitate automobile traffic in the East-West direction and to ease Foresta Street, automobile traffic on one lane will be restored at the height of Quai Lunel. This arrangement will preserve the developed bike path and the entire pedestrian sidewalk, which was widened following the establishment of the path.
(ii) In the West-East direction: access to the port will be facilitated from Place Toja and Place Garibaldi, via Rue Ségurane and the reversal of Rue Robilant, thus allowing direct access to the port and the Lympia parking lot.
However, disturbance or not, we are not going to affect the movida!
The municipality’s statement is clear in this regard: “From Wednesday, June 3, and throughout the summer period, pedestrianization will be implemented exclusively on Friday and Saturday evenings to promote the district’s activity and attractiveness. A model similar to what we initiated in the Bonaparte district and Rue Delille a few years ago, which is now permanent.”
It remains to define the traffic flow for cars arriving from and departing to Corsica, which, during the summer, disturb the life of the neighborhood.
For now, we remain waiting, as stated in the municipality’s release: “discussions will be initiated with Corsica Ferry on the most suitable ferry schedules and on reducing automobile traffic.”
