The Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur held the first metropolitan council for the climate on Thursday, February 4, with the intention of adopting integrated policies and actions for adapting to and mitigating climate change, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and increase the social, environmental, and economic balance of the territory. Several measures were announced during the council.
A plan to impose a speed limit of 30 km/h in much of the center of Nice
There is no longer any doubt that improving air quality in the city must become a priority; otherwise, the population will continue to breathe polluted air. A large area with a 30 km/h speed limit will be implemented in the center of Nice, from boulevard Grosso to boulevard Carabacel. Bicycles and pedestrians will have priority there, and traffic lights will be removed to smooth the flow of traffic.
“To avoid cars stopping and starting, which causes CO2 emissions – explains the president of the metropolis, Christian Estrosi – the best system is to allow continuous and slow circulation to avoid stopping at every intersection. Only the lights at tram crossings will be maintained for safety reasons. The arrangements will be made progressively, in phases, by 2025.”
Access to the Promenade des Anglais must be strictly prohibited for heavy vehicles
Traffic on the Promenade des Anglais should be banned for vehicles over 3.5 tons starting June 1, 2021. “A draft order will be proposed to the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes to ban trucks from the Promenade des Anglais and the Quai des États-Unis,” announced the metropolis. It also advocates for free use of the Nice bypass on the highway.
A hybrid maritime shuttle will connect the port of Nice to Cap-d’Ail
“For summer 2021, a shuttle service will be activated to connect the port of Nice to the port of Cap d’Ail. This hybrid shuttle will be dedicated to those commuting between Nice and Monaco for work and will be connected to tramway line 2. Initially, the shuttle will be hybrid but will eventually become entirely electric or run on hydrogen,” the metropolis anticipates.
A financial assistance fund will be allocated to promote the use of electric bicycles or electric cars
“To improve and make home-to-work travel more sustainable, a long-term electric bike rental service will be launched for ‘active’ users of the metropolis by 2022. Electric bike travel represents a sustainable environmental solution to reduce pollution. An aid fund will be created to acquire electric vehicles for both citizens and businesses,” promises the metropolis.
But that’s not all! An energy renovation program for public buildings and the development of hydrogen are also expected.
