# SUVs to be banned inside Paris. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 11, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845 "2004-06-11T17:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/1 "2004-06-11T17:34:39Z")
> **[4x4s into Paris won't go - if SUV ban works](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jun/10/france.motoring)** > > French threat to bar off-roaders from capital echoes London debate. It seems that a tree-hugging fanatic wants to ban SUVs inside Paris. I pit him. :wally ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/2 "2004-06-11T17:37:59Z")
Frankly, given the narrowness of some of the roads in Paris (especially the older sections), I wouldn’t WANT to drive an SUV there. I’d be worried about taking off everyone’s sideview mirror along the way. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/3 "2004-06-11T17:41:36Z")
Other than having the chance to use the phrase “tree-hugging fanatic”, is there any actual substance to your rant? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/4 "2004-06-11T17:55:05Z")
To Dog80. . . Have you ever 1. Been to Paris? 2. Driven in Paris? 3. Tried to park in Paris? This makes sense for so many reasons its not even funny – even if SUV’s ran on solar power. There are hardly any SUV’s driving around there anyway. It would be a dumb person who would want one if they drove in Paris a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/5 "2004-06-11T18:03:02Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > Frankly, given the narrowness of some of the roads in Paris (especially the older sections), I wouldn’t WANT to drive an SUV there. I’d be worried about taking off everyone’s sideview mirror along the way. I hear you. Japan has the same problems, but I kind of like their ‘hands-off’ approach. Let the dumbasses go ahead and spend US$40,000+ buying a ridiculously oversized vehicle in the States and shipping it halfway around the world, then let everybody laugh at them when they realize that they can’t actually fit down half the streets in their neighborhood. Usually, this realization comes after the loud ‘crunch’ of a car getting wedged between a concrete light pole and a building, and is further compounded when they discover that not only are they stuck too tightly to back out, they’re trapped inside because there’s no space to open the doors. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/6 "2004-06-11T18:19:00Z")
The rule in Paris is also, “you need to yield to vehicles entering from the right.” Being BEHIND an SUV who is yielding could be problematic. Parked SUV’s would make it difficult to see if someone’s coming from the right (and that someone is usually just doing a somewhat rapid “rolling stop”). People park on the sidewalk there – their motorbikes, scooters, and in places, their tiny cars, bumper to bumper. Rarely are there spaces there. It’s just 1) park wherever, 2) buy a “ticket” from a nearby meter and 3) stick it in your windshield. So, in that system, a large number of SUV’s would essentially decrease the number of parking spaces. So, I guess they’re not banned now, but if they’re becoming too numerous, I could see it being a good idea. And that’s all without even mentioning the polluting aspects. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/7 "2004-06-11T19:16:28Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > The rule in Paris is also, “you need to yield to vehicles entering from the right.” > > Being BEHIND an SUV who is yielding could be problematic. > > Parked SUV’s would make it difficult to see if someone’s coming from the right (and that someone is usually just doing a somewhat rapid “rolling stop”). > > People park on the sidewalk there – their motorbikes, scooters, and in places, their tiny cars, bumper to bumper. Rarely are there spaces there. It’s just 1) park wherever, 2) buy a “ticket” from a nearby meter and 3) stick it in your windshield. > > So, in that system, a large number of SUV’s would essentially decrease the number of parking spaces. > > So, I guess they’re not banned now, but if they’re becoming too numerous, I could see it being a good idea. > > And that’s all without even mentioning the polluting aspects. Define SUV. Are Daihatsu Terios or Suzuki Jimny SUVs? How about Toyota RAV4? Where do you draw the line? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/8 "2004-06-11T19:18:42Z")
Having actually been to Paris, I say they ought to ban anything larger than a Mini. It would be a good idea for London as well. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/9 "2004-06-11T19:22:17Z")
What kind of emissions come from SUVs as opposed to smaller vehicles? If they have higher emissions, then it might make sense to ban SUVs to protect their architecture. Smog is already wreaking havoc in Rome. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/10 "2004-06-11T19:28:52Z")
> [@kung fu lola](#): > > What kind of emissions come from SUVs as opposed to smaller vehicles? If they have higher emissions, then it might make sense to ban SUVs to protect their architecture. Smog is already wreaking havoc in Rome. Keep in mind that most SUVs in Europe have engines between 2 and 2.5 liters. For comparison, a Saturn has a 2.2 liter engine ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/11 "2004-06-11T19:31:56Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > It would be a good idea for London as well. Yeah, shame that - I’m seeing H2 Hummers over here these days, possibly the stupidest car in the world. However, the BMW X5 is the SUV of choice for the modern Londoner, complete with bumper stickers proclaiming how much they love their horse, and making plain their opposition to congestion charging in Chelsea and Kensington dontcherknow. By American standards, of course, the X5 is probably a compact. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/12 "2004-06-11T21:02:56Z")
I wonder if the ban will include tanks… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/13 "2004-06-11T21:43:09Z")
Is it actually still legal to hug trees in Paris though? That’s the most important thing. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/14 "2004-06-11T21:51:02Z")
So, are there many four-wheeling opportunities within the Paris city limits? Rutted dirt/muddy roads, streams to cross, heavy snowfalls, that sort of thing? If so, not being able to drive an SUV or some other kind of 4wd vehicle would kinda suck. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/15 "2004-06-11T21:51:16Z")
Do the bigwigs in government get to keep driving their big limousines in Paris? ---
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/16 "2004-06-11T22:03:02Z")
In retaliation I suggest that all American car-manufacturers rename their SUV’s “Freedom Wagons”. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/17 "2004-06-11T22:14:44Z")
Well, this thread was not quite what I expected. When I read the title, I though that Ms. Hilton had finally begun to get restrictive in her dating selections. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/18 "2004-06-11T22:20:03Z")
What with Ms Hilton’s selectivity in dating, you’d probably be able to park an SUV inside her. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/19 "2004-06-11T22:39:07Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > So, are there many four-wheeling opportunities within the Paris city limits? Rutted dirt/muddy roads, streams to cross, heavy snowfalls, that sort of thing? If so, not being able to drive an SUV or some other kind of 4wd vehicle would kinda suck. :rolleyes: Don’t forget the herds of large wild herbivores roaming about the place; you hit one of those babies and you’re gonna be glad you’re driving a fucking ridiculously oversized vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/20 "2004-06-11T22:41:38Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > The rule in Paris is also, “you need to yield to vehicles entering from the right.” No longer the case. > [@kung fu lola](#): > > What kind of emissions come from SUVs as opposed to smaller vehicles? If they have higher emissions, then it might make sense to ban SUVs to protect their architecture. Smog is already wreaking havoc in Rome. The cite in the OP explains that yes, the popular off-road vehicles in Europe (note - they’re never called SUVs) are among the worst polluters. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > So, are there many four-wheeling opportunities within the Paris city limits? Rutted dirt/muddy roads, … Never been to Paris? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845.md?page=2)