Paris takes a stab at banning SUVs, old diesel vehicles

Better get used to Paris' new transportation reality. The grand European capitol is thinking about taking another step away from unthinking private car-based transportation. The long-awaited Autolib car-sharing program recently got a boost and of course there is the Velib bike-sharing program. The latest move? A ban on gas-guzzling vehicles, i.e., SUVs and old diesel vehicles, that would go into effect in late 2011 or 2012. What's most interesting is this bit of advice from Denis Baupin, an environmental official in the mayor's office. If you have one of these dirty rides, "Sell it and buy a vehicle that's compatible with city life. I'm sorry, but having a sport utility vehicle in a city makes no sense," the AP reports. The areas under considering for the restrictions are Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and Aix-en-Provence. With a year or so to go, the details about how, when and what the fines could be are pretty vague, but the City of Lights is getting the discussion going. Good on 'em.

[Source: Detroit Free Press via Green Car Reports | Image: Walter Rodriguez – C.C. License 2.0]