French embrace a `gimmick' as pollution figures show it's the cars that eat Paris

Tomorrow's car-free day, observed by 71 French cities and 680 towns throughout Europe, is a special victory for Ms Dominique Voynet, the French environment minister and Green party leader, who initiated the first car-free day in France three years ago.

Ms Voynet nearly resigned this month because the French government lowered the cost of highly-polluting diesel fuel in response to protesting fishermen and lorry drivers.

Experts at Airparif, the institute that monitors air pollution in Paris, say the car-free day has a negligible effect on air quality. Harmful gases drop by 3050 per cent in streets closed to cars, but overall the change cannot even be detected. "It's really a day to inform the public, to make them sensitive to the problem," said Mr Martine Bassavy, an engineer at Airparif.

Air pollution is a serious problem in Paris, and cars - not industry - are the cause. Every day, three million people in the Paris region breathe air which violates the safety norms set by the EU. About 10 times a year, pollution in the capital reaches "Level 2" (400 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per m. Old people, children and those with respiratory diseases are asked to remain indoors. The speed limit is reduced by 20 km.p.h. and parking is free.

Only once, on September 30th, 1997, did the alert continue for more than 48 hours. Owners of cars with odd and even number plates were then asked to drive on alternate days.

Although a few critics denounce it as a "gimmick", the car-free day is well received by the French public. This year, due to a political dispute between Ms Voynet and the right-wing mayor of Paris, Mr Jean Tiberi, the capital is organising its own car-free day rather than participate in the Europe-wide initiative.

Unlike 1998 and 1999, no Paris streets will be closed. But 13 parking lots on the periphery of the city will be free after the first hour and residential parking will be free after the first hour.

Gone are the days when the late President Pompidou said Paris "must adapt to the car". Two of the candidates for the Paris mayoral election next March advocate banning cars completely from five of the city's central arrondissements.

Meanwhile, the ministry of transport estimates that traffic in the capital will increase by 35 per cent by 2015 if nothing is done.