Where do you meet Parisians?

Aujourd’hui newspaper recently reported that France’s rural villages populations are increasing, and judging by the number of Parisians that I’ve met outside of Paris, the new statistics don’t surprise me. Parisians are simply fed up with city living. A few days ago, Gerard complained about the four hour traffic jam to get from Normandy to the Left Bank (which would normally take two hours). Today, I met a couple who lived in Paris for a number of years - in some of the places that most of us might give our eye teeth to live - Ile St. Louis, for example.

“My wife couldn’t stand the pollution or the noise,” said Francois who now resides in Lisieux, Calvados. Pollution is a very real issue. Having lived in New York City for four years, I have to admit that the amount of grit that infiltrates our street windows and elevator shaft window of our left bank apartment is pretty awesome.

As for the noise - I like the street sounds, especially the sound of French ambulance and police sirens which remind me that I am definitely in France, not LA or Miami. The very things that disturb Parisians the most - pollution and noise - are often the fault of that culprit which most would refuse to give up - the car. (Although probably the worst offenders are the diesel-fuel trucks).

Mayor Delanoe’s efforts to alleviate Paris’s pollution problem have not always been met with joy. In recent years major traffic arteries have been squeezed from two lanes to one lane in some parts of town. Each year, the peripherique, the belt that connects Paris to major autoroutes becomes more and more congested. Still, people cannot do without their cars. The cost of taking the trains - in many cases is not alluring enough to leave the car at home. For example, from Normandy, the cost of a train ticket from Bernay (Eure) to Gare St. Lazare in Paris is almost the same as it would cost for the price of filling up the gas tank. If you’re one person, it’s a break even proposition. If you’re two, you’re better off driving.

What does this mean for Paris longterm? If most of the residents end up leaving Paris, you might assume, that there’s plenty of people to take their places. But if all the plumbers, the hardware stores, the Mom and pop grocery stores, the shoe repair shops and the drycleaners leave town, what will be left but the museums and the restaurants? If this sounds slightly pessimistic, it’s only a reflection of what I’ve heard in recent days.

By Parisgirl | Permalink

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