How Paris swapped cars for bikes – and transformed its streets (theguardian.com)

The Guardian describes how Paris, under former mayor Anne Hidalgo, expanded segregated bike lanes, reduced car access and reclaimed street space—changes credited with improving road safety and helping cut air pollution. The article notes that the shift faced backlash from motorists and mixed public support, though many residents say the new infrastructure has made cycling and walking feel normal. It also argues Paris’s progress was aided by administrative factors, while challenges remain in the car-dominated suburbs encircled by the Boulevard Périphérique.