SEZs experienced their first setbacks. These zones, designed to reduce pollution in major cities, have sparked much debate in recent months, including among some elected officials “social divide” between those who can afford to buy a new car (and therefore pollute less) to continue driving around the city, and the poorest who cannot afford to change vehicles.

SEZs should become more democratic over the next few years and even strengthen in most major cities where they already exist. But from the side of the capital Lyon, even if the ZFE continues, it will not expand as expected.

Lyon ZFE will remain as is

Indeed, the metropolis of Lyon has announced that it will abandon its project to extend the low-emission zone to municipalities in the east of the agglomeration.

“We modified the project taking into account all the feedback we received during consultations with business entities and individuals”told AFP in the territorial formation.

On February 14, the president of the Lyon agglomeration, Bruno Bernard, said that “overhaul” of this expansion project, which has angered some elected officials and the public due to its rapid implementation and certain limitations.

Perimeter of “adjusted ZFE amplification project” now coincides “in the current volume” ZFE (Lyon, Villers-Bains, Caluir-et-Cuir, Bron and Venissier), to which will be added from 1^Er January 2024, two expressways and two ring road sections, the metropolis reports.

The state and its duties

Initially limited to heavy goods vehicles and light commercial vehicles classified Crit’Air 5, 4 and 3, as well as unclassified vehicles, ZFE Lyon excludes, since last January, private vehicles classified Crit’Air 5 and unclassified, which are considered the most polluting.

As originally planned, the ban on the movement of private vehicles classified Crit’Air 4 and 3 in the area will be effective from 1^Er January 2024 and 1^Er January 2025, respectively. Vehicles with a Crit’Air rating of 2 will still be able to cycle to 1^Er January 2028 onwards only on two expressways and two ring road sections newly included in the ZFE.

“Now the state has to do what it has to do”– concluded the metropolis, repeating the statements of Bruno Bernard last February. “We need the state to meet the obligations it has placed on us” on EPZs, he told AFP. “If we don’t have national communication, it will be very difficult”.

A Senate report was recommended last week make the restriction schedule more flexible and strengthen incentives for the purchase of environmentally friendly vehicles to promote the adoption of EPZs.

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