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Why is Bordeaux the worst city in France for traffic jams?

The south-western French city of Bordeaux has been ranked worst in the country - even ahead of Paris - for the time drivers waste stuck in traffic jams. But why's it so bad? Share your own views in the comment section.

Why is Bordeaux the worst city in France for traffic jams?
Traffic along the banks of the River Garonne in Bordeaux. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)

Travelling 10km in Bordeaux at peak times takes an average of 26 minutes and 30 seconds, according to figures from GPS firm TomTom. 

The study found as of 2023 that Bordeaux was as bad as Paris when it comes to general traffic congestion, and worse than other large French cities like Lyon, Nice and Marseille.

While Paris’ streets were found to be congested more often than those in Bordeaux, with commuters spending more time behind the wheel in traffic jams, Bordeaux ranked higher than France’s capital city on world and regional rankings.

In 2023, Bordeaux ranked the 15th most congested city in the world and the 7th worst for motorists in Europe. Paris, for comparison, ranked 16th globally, and eighth in Europe.

According to the TomTom index, London is the most congested city in the world, with 10km vehicle journeys taking 37 minutes and 20 seconds, at an average speed of 14km/h; followed by Dublin (29 minutes and 30 seconds at 16km/h); and Toronto (29 minutes at 18 km/h). 

As for Bordeaux, it took 20 seconds longer to travel the same distance than it did in 2023, according to TomTom.

READ ALSO What are the most expensive autoroutes in France you might want to avoid?

Why is traffic so bad in Bordeaux?

These figures will come as little surprise to commuters in Bordeaux. An analysis of car travel times between 2017 and 2021 in Bordeaux, by the Agence d’urbanisme Bordeaux Aquitaine (A’urba), found that almost an hour was needed “to reach Bordeaux city hall from the municipalities in its urban area” during morning and evening rush hours.

Road infrastructure and pedestrianisation in the city centre, the increasing local population, congestion on the over-capacity ring road, rising post-pandemic traffic levels and a change in how the study’s calculations are weighted to include city-centre travel are cited as reasons for Bordeaux’s jump up the congestion rankings. 

The western ring road is a regular pinch-point because it is used by local traffic as an urban rat run, as well as motorists wanting to avoid the city centre.

The city has made no secret of its efforts to reduce the space in the city given to cars for environmental and human reasons.

The historic centre is increasingly pedestrianised, while bus lanes and barriers have reduced capacity for motorists even further. But with more and more people moving into the area, the inevitable consequence is an increase in traffic levels in a smaller available space. The result: increased congestion.

READ ALSO Will petrol prices in France come down in 2024?

But Bordeaux isn’t about to change tack to make it more accommodating for cars. The city – which prides itself on being cycling-friendly, and where it is now as quick to get on your bike as it is to jump behind the wheel – is working to further develop ‘soft mobility’ options such as walking, cycling and public transport to tempt motorists out of their vehicles, reduce congestion and cut pollution.

How slow is traffic in Bordeaux?

During peak times, cars in Bordeaux crawl along at an average speed of just 18km/h, putting them on a par with ordinary bicycles for speed, the study said. Electric scooters, bicycles and mopeds are able to travel faster.

In fact drivers in the Nouvelle Aquitaine capital wasted the equivalent of nearly 14 working days (111 hours), stuck in traffic, at an annual cost in petrol alone of €137. This can be compared to a lofty 120 hours in Paris and just 36 hours in Saint-Etienne, the 25th most congested city in Paris.

In total, some 20 additional minutes was added to travel times at peak times compared to off-peak hours. In effect, a third of motorists’ travel time in the city was spent moving at a snail’s pace in traffic jams.

What about other French cities?

Bordeaux (first) and Paris (second) topped the charts. Lyon, whose population is almost double that of Bordeaux, followed in third place. 

The smaller city of Nancy in eastern France, came in fourth. Nice, along the Riviera, came in fifth place – perhaps fitting for its status as France’s fifth most populous city.

The central city of Clermont took up sixth place, and the country’s second most populous city, Marseille, held seventh place.

Montpellier, which has roughly the same population as Bordeaux, was eighth, while Rouen and Grenoble ranked ninth and 10th respectively.

Do you live in the Bordeaux area? Let us know your thoughts on the traffic situation in the comment section below.

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DRIVING

French city hikes parking charges for SUVs

On Tuesday, the eastern French city of Lyon introduced its new 'progressive pricing' model for parking, which imposes higher charges for heavy vehicles such as SUVs.

French city hikes parking charges for SUVs

Residents in the south-eastern French city of Lyon face steeper parking prices if they own a heavier car as the city steps up an environmental battle against gas-guzzling SUVs.

The scheme, which was first announced in 2023, went into effect on Tuesday.

The deputy mayor of Lyon, Valentin Lungenstrass, told the French press that the plan is “a complete, fairer system, taking into account the weight of the vehicle”.

Parking will now be charged at three different rates – reduced, standard and increased – depending on the vehicle’s weight and other factors.

You can use the town hall’s simulator HERE to see how much you would be charged.

Here’s how it will work;

For Lyon residents

Instead of having paying for parking at the standard rate of €20 per month, there will be three different, means-tested, options depending on your car and family situation.

Most electric vehicles and internal-combustion engine cars weighing less than one tonne will pay a reduced rate of €15 a month, as well as low-income households and those with at least three dependent children.

According to local authorities, this rate will apply to at least 50 percent of households in Lyon.

The second rate will be €30 per month. This will concern vehicles weighing between one tonne to 1.525 tonnes, as well as plug-in hybrids (up to 1.9 tonnes).

Finally, the third rate of €45 will be applied to those with vehicles weighing over 1.525 tonnes, as well as hybrids that weigh more than 1.9 tonnes and electric vehicles that weight more than 2.1 tonnes. 

READ MORE: Meet France’s tiny cars that you don’t need a licence to drive

For visitors

Visitors will also pay for parking at a progressive rate structure.

Ultimately, Franceinfo reported that the vast majority of visitors will see their rates increase.

The same criteria as above will apply – vehicles under one tonne get the reduced rate, those between one tonne and 1.525 tonnes plus hybrids under 1.9 tonnes get the standard rate, and those above 1.525 tonnes and the heaviest hybrids and electric vehicles get the increased rate.

As such, a vehicle that meets the reduced rate requirement will pay €1 for one hour, €3 for two hours, and €18 to park for seven hours. The standard rate will be €2 for one hour, €6 for two hours, and €26 for seven hours, and the increased rate will be €3 for one hour, €9 for two hours and €39 for seven hours.

You can see the full table here.

According to estimates by the Lyon town hall, 20 percent of visitors will be affected by the reduced rate, 65 percent will pay the standard rate and 15 percent will pay the increased rate.

For tradespeople and workers

There will be a different scheme applied for workers. 

Annual subscriptions will be offered to those who work in ‘urgent repair’ professions, as well as those in construction.

“Several subscriptions will be possible for the same company”, the town hall told 20 Minutes.

Store owners and shopkeepers will also be offered a different pricing plan, as well as healthcare professionals who go to appointments at people’s homes. More information here.

Other steps in France to encourage greener vehicles

The French government previously introduced a purchase tax on new heavier, more polluting cars, amounting to a €10 payment per kilogramme above 1.8 tonnes.

In Paris, residents voted in favour of a similar weight-based parking scheme in February 2024, which would charge cars weighing 1.6 tonnes or more €18 per hour for parking in the city centre, or €12 further out.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, of Parti Socialiste, hailed a “clear choice of Parisians” in favour of a measure that is “good for our health and good for the planet”.

Fully electric cars will have to top two tonnes to be affected, while people living or working in Paris, taxi drivers, tradespeople, health workers and people with disabilities will all be exempt.

The new parking charges will apply from September 1st. 

The French government also introduced a special leasing deal to help households access electric vehicles. 

Eligible French residents can rent a car without a deposit for three years and renew the subscription once, supported by a subsidy of up to €13,000 for each car.

READ MORE: How France’s €100-per-month electric car lease scheme works

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