A crisis has erupted in Paris as the French capital gears up for the 2024 Olympics, causing more trouble for Emmanuel Macron.
The popular European city will be hosting the Olympic Games this year which is scheduled to start in July. However, amidst the ongoing issues of housing shortage bed bugs, and climate change protests, Paris has to cope with another issue– a shaky transport system.
Residents have been left worried about the dilapidated transport system ahead of the Olympics.
Ticket prices are due to double during the Games, and Metro lines 6, 8 and 14 all closed during the February school holidays for an upgrade, causing considerable inconvenience to families, reports The Telegraph.
Thibault Barbou, a consultant, said: “Travel in Paris has been really complicated this year. Everything is under construction.
“It’s impossible to update all the outdated lines, and there aren’t enough train drivers already.”
Léo Leclerc, who works in insurance said: “The Metro lines are already saturated and the transport system is falling into disrepair. I bike to work, but not everyone can do that.
“Take people with physical disabilities, for example.
“There seems to be a refusal to install elevators at certain Metro stations when there’s not the means to install them everywhere, so what’s the alternative for them? A bus that only runs every 20 minutes or so?”
The French government has recommended that residents of Paris reduce their travel during the Olympics to alleviate pressure on the transportation network and to opt for remote work whenever feasible.
Consequently, numerous businesses have opted to shut down operations for annual leave throughout the event, although, for certain sectors, this may not be practical.
The French government has put together a guide with an interactive map to help Parisians and visitors alike plan their journeys during the Games.
It includes live updates on Metro line closures, road closures and traffic conditions, and can be found at anticiperlesjeux.gouv.fr.
