# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Asteroide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@Asteroide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asteroide)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/21 "2004-06-11T23:08:54Z")
The only thing an SUV is good for in Paris is battering your way into a parking slot. Paris has about 800,000 parking spaces for a daytime population of about 4,000,000. More than half of the city’s public space is reserved for cars (roads+parking). Most of the cars are driven by commuters who reside outside the city. Traffic moves at an average speed of 10 mph (about the speed of a bicycle). Over the last few years Paris has also developed a serious problem with pollution. We basically don’t have room for private cars, and the city government seems to be working towards phasing them out. Many roads have been altered such that there’s a reserved lane for busses, taxis and emergency vehicles, while private vehicles crawl along in the remaining lanes. A number of roads are closed to traffic on weekends, the riverside roads are closed to traffic in summer, more stringent anti-pollution laws have been enacted, and random emissions testing at police roadblocks can result in heavy fines etc. Anyhow, you get the idea, cars are no longer entirely welcome in Paris, and the SUV thing is just a minor detail in the big picture. Although I love cars myself, I really don’t understand the mindset where people believe they have a “right” to take up public space with private vehicles - do you believe you have the “right” to fly a privately owned helicopter around the city’s airspace ? Do you have the “right” to park a bulldozer downtown ? BTW **GorillaMan** we still give way to traffic coming from the right (except where specified otherwise - périphérique) - **be careful when you drive here !** ---
**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, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/22 "2004-06-11T23:25:21Z")
> [@Asteroide](#): > > BTW **GorillaMan** we still give way to traffic coming from the right (except where specified otherwise - périphérique) - **be careful when you drive here !** My mistake - I thought it was only Belgium that still had that ludicrous law… Those wacky Belgians, eh? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/23 "2004-06-11T23:37:24Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > My mistake - I thought it was only Belgium that still had that ludicrous law… Those wacky Belgians, eh? :dubious: The circling swarm at the Arc d’ Triomphe during rush hour (which sort of resembles the ‘squiddies’ in “The Matrix - Revolutions”) would certainly be less entertaining without the 'right-has-right-of-way law. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/24 "2004-06-11T23:53:03Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > 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 Most, maybe, but apparently not all. The article itself mentions by name two SUVs with relatively large V8 engines. > [@](#): > > A recent survey by France’s Agency for the Environment and Energy Management, Ademe, placed Mercedes’ deluxe but bulky G500 off-roader top of a “list of shame” of the most environmentally harmful cars in Europe, and underlined the fact that **of the 18 vehicles on that list, 14 are SUVs**. A similar British study by the Environmental Transport Association, based on manufacturers’ figures, named the Range Rover 4.6 HSE as the dirtiest car on the road. Furthermore, even the sponsor of this bill concedes that he can’t simply single out SUVs, but rather is looking to adopt certain environmental standards for cars coming into Paris: > [@](#): > > Mr Baupin said Paris could not legally ban SUVs outright, but could include a clause in its next transport and traffic plan, due to be adopted in 2005, restricting vehicles that did not meet minimum environmental requirements. > > “Our idea is to limit the circulation of the most polluting vehicles.” Essentially, then, they want to set certain minimum standards of envirnmental friendliness for the vehicles that use the city’s streets. Really not much different from the emissions testing undertaken by many US states. If SUV makers and owners feel especially put out by the legislation, maybe they can start designing some more efficient SUVs? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/25 "2004-06-12T04:24:55Z")
**Dog80** , the article you linked to presents very good arguments for banning SUV’s in Paris. Unfortunately, the French government wouldn’t be able to ban them altogether. They would be able to ban cars that don’t meet up to certain emissions standards. If SUV’s _could_ be banned, it would help to solve at least five problems: 1. pollution 2. oil dependence 3. reduction in need to buy SUV’s as a defensive maneuver 4. parking 5. traffic flow The first people that I met on the streets of Paris were with Green Peace. I was glad to see that they are so active there. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/26 "2004-06-12T07:26:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What with Ms Hilton’s selectivity in dating, you’d probably be able to park an SUV inside her. Wow. That’s incredibly crass. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/27 "2004-06-12T07:49:23Z")
Once again, France is well ahead of the good ol’ USA. We can only hope SUVs are banned here one day, too. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/28 "2004-06-12T11:20:09Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Is it actually still legal to hug trees in Paris though? That’s the most important thing. Yes, but there are strict EU regulations regarding: - type of tree suitable for hugging -hours in which hugging is permitted -maximum duration-of-hug time -mandatory saftey gear to prevent bark-burn. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/29 "2004-06-12T11:21:29Z")
Excellent news. I look forward to similar UK regulation against these selfish, ugly and obnoxious brutes. My view has always been that cars should be taxed by volume as much as the engine size. You want a vehicle that takes up twice the road space and blocks out the sun? Fine. You pay extra road rental. ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/30 "2004-06-12T11:44:46Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > I wonder if the ban will include tanks… 😉 Only German ones… ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/31 "2004-06-12T12:58:02Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What with Ms Hilton’s selectivity in dating, you’d probably be able to park an SUV inside her. So how does one type something to represent that noise cats make when fighting exactly? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/32 "2004-06-12T13:45:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Only German ones… Fortunately for the German tank drivers they will be welcomed with open arms in southern France. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/33 "2004-06-12T13:55:04Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Fortunately for the German tank drivers they will be welcomed with open arms in southern France. no they won’t, you idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/34 "2004-06-13T05:50:16Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Fortunately for the German tank drivers they will be welcomed with open arms in southern France. Bravo sir! Bravo! The originality and pithiness of your little jest was absolutely marvelous. The obviously encyclopaedic and nuanced feel for European geography and history – unparalleled. First the eye travels along the sentence to be confronted with the words _German tank_. This sets the reader up with a little tension, edginess. _What crazy, off the wall thing is this guy gonna come up with?_ wonders gentle reader. Next; _… welcomed with open arms_! The ambiguity keeps building the tension! Is this mischievous scamp indulging in a devastating attack on the quality of the French fighting man or hinting at the infamous promiscuity of the French woman? It matters nought because the _southern_ qualification lends the entire thing a further touch of WTF!? for it to all come crashing down around us in an explosion of hilarity with the climactic (but unexpected) _France_. Dear reader is left to recover from an almost post-coital level of emotional, physical and intellectual release. I for one literally sprayed Dr Pepper, urine, saliva and twinkie particles all over my keyboard. Do not be put off by TwistofFate’s admonishment for he is is a Philistine unable to deal with your humour on _any_ of its levels. Go forth to wreak similar paradigm-challenging havoc in other discussions. Bad teeth jibes in UK threads, dingo references in Australian threads, and make mention of _me frosted lucky charms_ charms if anything pertaining to Ireland comes up. You do have a .sig file to live up to. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/35 "2004-06-13T06:20:57Z")
> [@I Love Me](#): > > Once again, France is well ahead of the good ol’ USA. We can only hope SUVs are banned here one day, too. Based on this thread alone I’d like to see you show us all how France has stricter emissions standards than the US. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/36 "2004-06-13T06:23:37Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > I’d be worried about taking off everyone’s sideview mirror along the way. Shit, don’t worry about that! The French have no interest in looking back. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/37 "2004-06-13T07:39:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Bravo sir! Bravo! The originality and pithiness of your little jest was absolutely marvelous. Well fuck me. I had no idea people held such fond regard for the Vichy regime. I guess the fact that they were traitors to their own people, gleefully asisted in the killing of Jews,gutlessly jumped at every oportunity to sublimate themselves to Hitler and were executed for war crimes doesn’t really matter, because you posess the powers of sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/38 "2004-06-13T08:07:29Z")
subjugate, not sublimate. this revisionist history crap pisses me off to much to think straight. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/39 "2004-06-13T10:39:33Z")
I never knew that the Vichy regime as still in power in France. Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845/40 "2004-06-14T05:12:04Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > So how does one type something to represent that noise cats make when fighting exactly? 🙂 Rowr-hisssss! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suvs-to-be-banned-inside-paris/249845.md?page=3)