\u201cParis is an incredible example of how a city can change when political will aligns with smart use of data. We wanted to understand exactly which factors made this transformation possible,\u201d said one of the study\u2019s lead authors to Momentum Mag.<\/p>\n
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Bikesharing in Paris<\/p><\/div>\n
How the study was conducted<\/h4>\n
The researchers analysed multiple types of data to understand what is really behind the cycling boom in Paris. They tracked daily cyclist counts from 114 permanent bike counters installed across the city, which provide a precise, long-term picture of cycling traffic patterns.<\/p>\n
Because weather and extraordinary events can temporarily distort the data, the researchers removed outliers and focused on median daily values, which better represent overall trends. These were combined with meteorological data from the WMO station at Paris\u2013Orly, including temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind. They also accounted for holidays, lockdowns, and strikes that could influence travel behaviour.<\/p>\n
But the key role was played by policy data. Sources such as OpenStreetMap, V\u00e9lib\u2019 data, INSEE, and the City of Paris open data portal made it possible to construct a detailed timeline of policy changes: the construction of new cycle lanes and bike parking, growth in e-bike sales, rising fuel prices, and the introduction of low-emission zones. Other changes were also tracked, including the expansion of pedestrian areas, new public spaces, and measures slowing or restricting car traffic.<\/p>\n
In total, the analysis included 13 policy factors grouped into five main areas:<\/strong><\/p>\n Because these policies often overlapped\u2014for example, a bike lane running through a pedestrian zone or alongside a green corridor\u2014the researchers used dependence-aware statistical methods to distinguish how much each factor actually contributed to the change. To estimate the relative influence of individual variables on daily cycling volumes, they applied two advanced tools: StratIMPORT and kernel SHAP.<\/p>\n StratIMPORT examines the distribution of real data to assess how strongly each variable affects the outcome. Major investment in cycling infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n Plans such as Le Plan V\u00e9lo I and II delivered hundreds of kilometres of new cycle lanes. Political will and strategic planning<\/strong><\/p>\n Mayor Anne Hidalgo set the goal of making Paris a \u201c100% cycling city\u201d by 2026. Reducing car dominance and rethinking urban space<\/strong><\/p>\n Low-emission zones, bans on certain vehicles, reduced parking, wider sidewalks, and more greenery. Separated bike infrastructure is the core<\/p><\/div>\n Study findings show that targeted, bike-focused policies\u2014such as building dedicated bike lanes and improving bicycle parking\u2014significantly contributed to the increase in the number of cyclists. Equally important were measures that discouraged car use, such as low-emission zones, restrictions on automobile traffic, and rising fuel prices. Both forces aimed at the same goal: making cycling easier and driving in the city less convenient.<\/p>\n In other words, it wasn\u2019t just about infrastructure. It was about a fundamental change in the city\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n When streets became quieter and safer, more people dared to try cycling for the first time. Families who previously used bikes only for leisure rides began commuting through parks. Local businesses thrived as streets opened up to pedestrians and cyclists. Over time, cycling stopped being seen as a niche activity\u2014it became part of everyday life for Parisians.<\/p>\n Today, they are more bike rides than car rides in the centre of Paris<\/p><\/div>\n Mayor Anne Hidalgo\u2019s administration, in its V\u00e9lo Plan, didn\u2019t focus solely on building bike lanes\u2014the goal was to transform the way Parisians move around the city. Since 2020, over 1,000 kilometers of cycling infrastructure have been built in Paris, thousands of car parking spaces have been removed, and the city has committed to investing \u20ac250 million in cycling by 2026.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s V\u00e9lib\u2019 bike-sharing system, which previously struggled with problems, is now experiencing a literal boom\u2014it has over 400,000 subscribers and millions of rides every month. Streets around schools have been redesigned as car-free zones so children can get to school safely on foot or by bike.<\/p>\n Cultural change is now visible everywhere. Smartly dressed office workers ride city bikes to work in suits. Couriers and parents with cargo bikes share the same bike lanes. Helmets and reflective vests are scattered on caf\u00e9 tables and chairs. Cycling in Paris is no longer an activity only for the brave.<\/p>\n The Paris case study is not just a success story\u2014it\u2019s a guide for urban transformation. For cities that still believe \u201cpeople here won\u2019t cycle,\u201d the data shows otherwise. The main message is clear: change is possible when policy, infrastructure, and public space are aligned. It\u2019s not enough to paint a few bike lanes and wait for people to show up. Cities must create an environment where cycling is a natural choice\u2014the fastest, safest, and most pleasant way to get around.<\/p>\n But persistence is required. Paris didn\u2019t change overnight\u2014and certainly not without resistance. Critics warned that removing car lanes would cause chaos. Yet traffic didn\u2019t collapse\u2014it adapted. People switched to bikes, public transport, or walking. The air cleared, noise decreased, and streets came alive again. Cities like London, Bogot\u00e1, Montreal, and New York have seen similar results when they committed to long-term, data-driven cycling policies. Paris, however, went further\u2014and faster\u2014than most. But the greatest inspiration may be psychological: Paris shows what is possible.<\/p>\n For decades, cities around the world have claimed they are too sprawling, too cold, too hilly, or too car-dependent for cycling to become mainstream. Paris disproves that story. Change the streets\u2014and people will change with them. That is the key takeaway for other cities from this study: not just a map of changes, but the confidence that transformation is possible\u2014if you dare to alter the status quo.<\/p>\n Do you like what we do at AutoMat? Support us by contributing<\/a> any amount. Thank you!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Until recently, Paris was known more for its traffic jams than for a cycling culture. Its grand boulevards were lined with honking taxis, delivery vans, and crawling cars. Riding a bike through the city centre meant weaving between buses and scooters, often risking not just one\u2019s health, but sometimes even one\u2019s life. Fast forward to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":42488,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[313],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\nKernel SHAP, a model-interpretation method widely used in machine learning, compares how each factor shifted cycling levels relative to a reference (baseline) year, 2018. When the results of both models largely converged, the researchers gained confidence in their conclusion: the most important driver was not a single intervention, but the cumulative effect of consistent, coordinated policies. These included:<\/p>\n
\nAs part of these plans, some car lanes and parking spaces were removed, freeing up space for cyclists.<\/p>\n
\nBusinesses, shops, schools, and public spaces have gradually adapted\u2014more bike racks, better and safer cycling connections between streets.<\/p>\n
\nThe \u201ccoronapistes\u201d (temporary bike lanes created during the pandemic) have, in many cases, become permanent parts of the cycling network.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/auto-mat.cz\/app\/uploads\/celine-ylmz-pzegl1hpqi8-unsplash-1160x866.jpg\")
Recipe for a Cycling Boom<\/h4>\n
What it looks like in practice<\/h4>\n
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Main Political Goal<\/h4>\n
Lessons for Other Cities<\/h4>\n
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