Paris ring road: carpool lane comes into force

The leftmost lane of the Paris ring road is now reserved for certain vehicles, in order to improve traffic flow and encourage shared transport. This lane is activated during rush hour and is accessible only to the following categories of vehicle:

• Car-pooling vehicles, with at least two people on board
• Public transport (buses, school buses)
• Cabs
• Priority vehicles (emergency services and police)
• Motorcycles, which can travel between lanes on all lanes
• Holders of the “carte mobilité inclusion - stationnement”.

Heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (excluding public transport) are not authorized to use the carpool lane when it is active. When the lane is not in use, it becomes accessible to all road users.

The aim of this measure is to encourage carpooling, improve traffic flow and reduce pollutant emissions by promoting alternatives to the private car.

Since Monday, March 3, the reserved lane is active from Monday to Friday:

• From 7am to 10:30am
• From 4pm to 8pm in the evening

It is deactivated at weekends and on public holidays, and can also be deactivated by the Préfecture de Police in the event of heavy traffic jams.

The white diamond indicates lanes reserved for carpooling. When the sign is illuminated, it indicates that the rule applies and that access is subject to conditions.

The end of the system is indicated by the same crossed-out white diamond. The lane is once again accessible to all.

The introduction of a reserved lane on the Paris ring road meets several major objectives:

• Reduce traffic congestion

By encouraging carpooling and the use of public transport, this measure aims to limit the number of solo drivers on the road. For more details on the proper use of this lane, read our complete guide to the carpool lane.

• Reducing pollution and noise pollution

Fewer individual cars means fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less noise pollution, helping to improve air quality in Paris.

• Encouraging more sustainable modes of transport

By promoting car-sharing and public transport, the City of Paris aims to encourage users to adopt more environmentally-friendly alternatives and optimize vehicle occupancy.

• Improving journey times

Users of the reserved lane (carpoolers, buses, cabs, etc.) benefit from a faster, more reliable route, making these modes of transport more attractive.

• Preparing the future of the ring road

This experiment is part of a wider reflection on the evolution of the ring road, which could eventually incorporate more facilities to promote sustainable mobility.

This measure is in line with the city of Paris' climate plan, which aims to reduce traffic congestion, noise pollution and air pollution by encouraging car-sharing and the use of public transport.

The experiment will gradually be extended to the entire ring road, after an initial phase on the section between quai d'Issy and porte de Bercy.

The introduction of this car-sharing lane on the Paris ring road marks an important step in its transformation into a more environmentally-friendly route, better adapted to today's mobility needs.