REPORTING. “The ZTL is catastrophic”, these traders are up against the limited traffic zone

“Confused communication on entry rules”, impact on customers, three organizations in the small and large commerce sector are calling for the cancellation of the ZTL, the limited traffic zone established in the center of Paris since November. They denounce a drop in their customers.

“With this ZTL, we are above all obstructing the visits of people who come from the province and the outskirts. It is simply scandalous not to take more into consideration the opinions of traders.”

Pierre Talamon, president of the FNH, of the National Clothing Federation, has not lost his temper since the establishment in the very center of Paris of a limited traffic zone. In this part of the capital, concentrates “70% of multi-retailers and independent fashion businesses, whose interests he defends.

Since the beginning of last November, crossing this limited traffic zone has been prohibited for transit vehicles. The scope concerned includes almost all of the 1^is2^e3^e et 4^e districts. Only traffic originating or destination the streets of this perimeter is authorized according to the Paris town hall which specifies, on its site, the cases where drivers of motorized vehicles are entitled to park. It is also possible to go if: “I'm going to the ZTL because I have something to do there.” or “I'm going to a store/business”specifies the town hall; which warns that control and fines will be put in place in six months after a “pedagogical phase”.

Pierre Talamon, who runs a clothing store on rue du Temple in the Marais, quips: “Are we going to ask the consumer for a supporting ticket when leaving this area to prove that they went to a retailer or to a show?”

Determined to request the cancellation of the ZTL, the FNH filed an appeal with the administrative court against the City of Paris at the end of December. Supported by the Commerce Alliance which represents department stores, this action was also launched by the Marais Paris committee, a collective of “184 professionals from the hotel, catering and jewelry sectors”.

For the president of this committee, the ZTL produces a “deterrent effect” on customers. “We have eroded our catchment area. We are closing the quays in 2017, rue de Rivoli in 2020. We are eliminating parking spaces. The ZTL is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Today , we put in people's heads a new obstacle to come here”s’insurge Patrick Aboukrat. “We understand that we need to review travel, move towards something gentler, but not go there with a machete!”he adds.

Patrick Aboukrat, also manager of multi-brand fashion boutiques on rue du Temple, notes “a negative development” of customer traffic. “We no longer have customers from the west of Paris. We no longer have customers from the outer suburbs, which are still important.”

An analysis shared by Alice who runs a bar restaurant a few blocks away, rue des Archives. “Our clientele is a lot more tourists and fewer Parisians. The ZTL is catastrophic for small businesses. People don't necessarily want to take public transport to come to Paris, to do their shopping. Suddenly, they no longer come. They go shopping in the big shopping centers in the suburbs. she laments.

A little further north, in the 3rd arrondissement opposite the Arts et Métiers metro station, at the intersection of several busy roads, Stéphane, who runs a wine business, is tempering. “Here, it was hell. Horns constantly. Since the implementation of the ZTL, the noise has decreased a little in intensity: from 30 to 40% minimum. C“It is in any case, from this point of view, calmer.”