Parisification - Why Paris is THE City to Watch in Urbanism (sous-titres) - A Coolville Experience

Urban designer Mikael Colville-Andersen explores the many aspects of the #urbanism modernisation of Paris - or what he calls The Rebel Metropolis. There is a constant flow of developments all aimed at #futureproofing the #city against climate change but also reversing the negative impact of decades of car-centric development.

A long period of political will has created the framework for constant change - something that is unusual in a global, urban context. But #paris inspires nonetheless. Constantly, consistently and powerfully - as this freestyle #documentary will highlight.

Mikael was not paid to visit Paris - he just likes what's going on and explores it while living there. So nice try, you dorks from #saccagedeparis.

Link to #skateboarding Urbanism podcast episode:

Mikael explore les nombreux aspects de la modernisation de l'#urbanisme de ce qu'il appelle La Métropole Rebelle. Il y a un flux constant de développements visant tous à protéger la ville contre le changement climatique, mais aussi à inverser l'impact négatif de décennies de développement centré sur la voiture.

Une longue période de volonté politique a créé le cadre d'un changement constant, ce qui est inhabituel dans un contexte urbain mondial. Mais paris inspire quand même. Constamment, constamment et puissamment - comme le soulignera ce documentaire freestyle.

Mikael n'a pas été payé pour visiter Paris - il aime juste ce qui se passe et l'explore tout en y vivant. Alors bien essayé, bande de crétins de #saccageparis.

0:00 Intro
2:31 School Streets
5:04 Wider Sidewalks
6:08 Urban Gardens
7:38 TEP Park
9:26 Hardcore Urban Change
10:05 Clean City
11:03 Slow City
12:21 No thru traffic
13:22 Bike City
14:40 Paris Plage
18:22 Urban Forests
18:52 Champs-Elysees
21:05 Tramways
22:55 Life-Sized Streets
24:03 Skate City

[Altis_play]

It's crazy to be able to witness this transformation in our lifetime. I'm watching these changes closely and how they can have a strong and lasting positive impact on people's lives.

[shatterquartz]

As someone who first moved to Paris in the mid-1990s, I agree there has been a massive change for the better. Back then the municipal authorities were still pandering to the car lobby, but starting with Delanoë, and increasing under Hidalgo, human-friendly traffic reforms have really improved Parisian life. What other cities can take from this is that you don't have to aim for perfection, just change things where you can and build up on that; rely on public feedback and support to feed your momentum; and don't be afraid to rock the boat.

[huguesjouffrai]

At last somebody who has the same reactions I have when I hear a motorcycle in Paris. We shouldn't take this noise pollution for granted

[DerekKerton]

The Netherlands are the country to watch if you want to know how urbanism can be transformed after 4 decades of deliberate and good policy. But Paris is even MORE important. Because Paris is the place to watch if you want to know how things can be changed FAST. As expected, there are setbacks, and the rapid changes are not necessarily smooth...but after a decade, they are clearly improvements to the city, and the voters agree.
With what we know today about CO2, and the space-effects of private cars, we don't have the luxury to take the slow path to new urbanism, thus, Holland is the end game, but Paris is the path there.

[troemmer]

Wow! As a Berliner, I look with a lump in my throat at the great changes Paris is making. We had an election some days ago – it looks like we're going to have a new mayor who during the election campaign said "Berlin, don't let them ban your car" and "Berlin is for everyone. Also for car drivers" – and actually won the election with it! 😭😭😭

Traffic policy was a big issue in all campaigns and was unfortunately framed by politicians and our media as a culture war. (Cyclists versus motorists – who is the biggger a**hole?) A very prominent street in the Centrum (Friedrichstraße) was closed to cars, then reopened and then closed again and equipped with super ugly street furniture, just perfect for the grey Berliner winter. A really idiotic action and an absolute wasted opportunity. Many Berliners thought, if this is the traffic turnaround, then I'd rather drive a car.

Mikael, I would honestly be interested from a professional point of view, what is the difference in traffic development between Berlin and Paris. Because I don't get it: In Berlin there are hundreds super smart and dedicated activists in the field. There is a cool "Mobilitätsgesetz" but it is super lame and poorly implemented. So what went right in Paris? Maybe worth a longer video as well?

Watch now the Paris video further, quietly crying.... 😢

[hori]

You are so lucky to live in Paris. It's the only city I care to visit. There's something about it that restores my soul. The cream-colored stones and the uniform building heights create a walkable human-scale environment. You never feel like you're at the bottom of a canyon. There are independently owned boulangeries, pâtisseries, traiteurs, and merchants of every type rather than corporate schlock. The logical grand axes of the boulevards offer stunning vantage points.
Speaking of urban projects, on my visit in November 2022 I went to Gentilly outside the péripherique where a portion of the Bievre River which now runs underground and empties into the Seine in the 5th arrondissement has been restored. You can find a YouTube video about it.

[Flying_Basil]

Hell yeah!! No nonsense, in your face, fearless implementation of good design that's creating a better city for everyone. Paris is showing us that it doesn't need to be perfect, it never is. And look at how much you can do with cheap, temporary measures! Giving everyone a beta test of good design and shocker, they love it! Thanks as always for giving us your eagle-eyed look and analysis of the streets. So happy for the people of Paris to experience this newfound freedom to breathe and exist in their city

[cloverhal]

As a Parisian I must say I don’t like Hidalgo’s often misplaced words to everyday people that don’t live in the usually targeted areas of her city planning endeavors…BUT this video really opened me up about all the good things she inspired, instead of the bad things we more often than not seem to fixate upon

[LuckyDogProductions]

We were just in Paris, Montpellier, and Italy. Everything was beautiful and well thought out - then flew back into It was like landing in Calcutta, 1992, a bit of a hole.

[claudelalonde]

I am happy to hear that Paris is the #1 city in urbanism. Montréal's mayor Valérie Plante and Anne Hidalgo from Paris are exchanging a lot on progress to be made. Some of the new ideas for Paris come from Montréal and vice versa.

[Sarahlenea]

I agree that it's crazy how the city has changed in the past two decades.
Another thing I like very much is all the composting recycling facilities in the gardens, and the "third places" where many activities are organised by associations and other citizens' collectives. It's always impressive to see how many citizen initiatives there are all over the city.
The Mairie de Paris is also buying up buildings (housing and shops) to be able to offer it at affordable prices and fight against the crazy inflation of rents.
I've been living in the Paris suburbs for 8 years now, and I wish my mayor would follow the same example.

[francoisdandurand]

Utterly inspiring video! Heartfelt thanks, Mikael. 🙏🏼

I see examples in Montréal of quite many of the initiatives you depict and let us see... Yet, other than in the Plateau or Rosemont boroughs, they merely multiply within a few central boroughs in an almost timid manner, or else they're sparsely geolocated throughout the sprawling outer boroughs, drowned in a sea of invasive, bigger-than-ever vehicles.

The Parisian boldness is sadly rarely found here: you still merely need 3-5 car owners crying hysterically in every public tribune about how terribly difficult politicians are vowing to make their lives miserable... And magically, projects are either downsized into "pilot projects" that won't bother too many motorists, or worse, abandonned in favour of a noisy, static car-centric 'status quo'.

Such is the pervasiveness of the car-centric North American way...

There are however definite signs about an impending acceleration here, too. Yet it seems "slow as molasses" compared to Paris' non-stopping boldness!

[wonder]

You didn't show the Rue de Rivoli transformation, which is perhaps the most stunning change I've seen

[petergilbert]

Love your ‘in your face, say it as it is” style!! Along with the peripheral metro are the new Greater Paris longer distance bike paths from suburbs to centre, running approximately parallel to the RER suburban rail lines.

[sherarut]

Amazing! Was so impressed first time in Paris after covid. Paris in September of 2021 was very different to Paris I remembered from March 2018. Way to go!

[DimitarPashov-MitDinamit]

I have been following the city's transformation in the last few years and it is truly remarkable! A great example for the world's other metropolises.

[phil_the_explorer]

Thanks for the report, really cool to see the changes happening. I've lived in Paris from 2016 to 2018, great to see some things are changing, but a lot still remains to be done. In particular drivers behaviour: parking on the cycle lane, honking...
* Roundabouts are not protected for bikes, the "portes" accessing the city from the péripherique are a jungle of concrete and cars.
*Metro carriages are tinier than in other cities, resulting in too little space and overcrowding, especially at rush hour (for instance metro 6 and Rer B).

But compared to Tallinn where I live now, seeing a piano in the middle of the bridge makes me cry of joy 😅

[workingclasscoffeephilly]

Anthony Bourdain was one of my favorite story tellers and adventurers. Thank you for continuing his way of telling a story and for this fun look at my favorite city in the world!

[peterukkonen]

Lol the grunting about motorbikes. My girlfriend said it was like watching me. (The effin scooters on the bike paths here in copenhagen..) Nice video, made me want to live in Paris!

[davidlattoband]

I've visited Paris a few times over the past couple of years and I've been really impressed with the changes. Night and day from what we have here in Scotland.