Perspective
On the French Riviera, Street Reforms Come From the Right
Politically conservative Côte d’Azur cities like Cannes and Nice have embraced pedestrianization, car bans and bike lanes. That’s a departure from global norms.
Cyclists use a bike lane beside pedestrians on Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, in 2020.
Photographer: Jeremy Suyker/BloombergDuring a recent trip to France, I spent an afternoon sipping coffee at an outdoor restaurant abutting a three-tiered fountain. The surrounding city square bustled with activity: Tourists clutching shopping bags ambled past, while parents kept a watchful eye on children zig-zagging through the crowd. Despite the commotion, the area felt remarkably calm.
A key reason why: It was completely free of cars.